In race for CM, DK aims for a ‘Gowda’ edge

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT
Bengaluru

Having decided to make a determined effort to become CM after the 2023 polls, KPCC President D.K.Shivakumar is reportedly building bridges with former CM and Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party Leader H.D.Kumaraswamy to get his ambition fulfilled. Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy are known to get along well as they belong to the powerful Vokkaliga community and have a common ‘obstacle’ in their paths, Leader of the Opposition in the the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah.

While Kumaraswamy wants to curtail the political growth of Siddaramaiah, the PCC president does not mind using his influence to push the former CM to the backseat so that his path to the CM chair is unhindered. So, this famous ‘Jodettu’ (a pair of bulls) who relentlessly worked for the victory of the joint Congress- JD(S) candidate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Mandya Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 general election, seem to be getting together once again to upset Siddaramaiah’s apple cart. During a function in connection with the unveiling of Nada Prabhu Kempe Gowda’s statute in H.D. Kote town in Mysuru District on Sunday, the duo shared the dais.

The event came in handy for them to play the Vokkaliga card and to drum up support for Vokkaligas in the coming Assembly polls. Forgetting all differences of opinion, Shivakumar termed Kumaraswamy as his ‘brother ‘ and complimented him for developing Ramanagara district during his tenure as chief minister. The duo rained praise on themselves and dropped hints that this time, “the CM Kurchi Nammade’ (this time, the CM chair is ours).

The Kanakapura MLA knows well that JDS supremo H.D. Deve Gowda wields a lot of influence over the Vokkaliga community especially in south Karnataka districts comprising Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Hassan, Ramanagar, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Tumkur, Chitradurga and Chikballapur. For this reason, the JD(S) has been winning a few seats in this region despite losing its base in North Karnataka and coastal Karnataka. So, Shivakumar has to be in the good books of Deve Gowda no matter whether his Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah likes him or not. Shivakumar has all along maintained good ties with Deve Gowda and his family members and though he and Kumaraswamy are in different political parties, they are very good friends at the personal level as they want a Vokkaliga leader to be anointed as the next CM.

To sway the Vokkaligas’ support, Shivakumar announced a financial help of Rs 50 lakh for the construction of a building in the name of Bengaluru founder Kempe Gowda though the organisers had sought only Rs 10 lakh. While Siddaramaiah is trying to consolidate his position in the Congress Party as the top leader, Shivakumar is leaving no stone unturned to grab the CM post by ensuring the victory of the maximum Vokkaliga legislators in the 2023 Assembly polls.