Days after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar hinted there was a “secret pact” (power-sharing formula) that would elevate him to the CM’s post at an "appropriate time", the KPCC once again dropped hints that he was no pushover in politics.
Shivakumar, during former chief minister SM Krishna's obituary reference in the Assembly, recalled his long association and the special bond he shared with his political mentor. But what stood out for its innuendo was his narrating how he fought for a cabinet berth in Krishna's government.
Shivakumar recalled how as an independent (Congress rebel) MLA, he had visited Delhi, met PV Narasimha Rao to tell him that his group of MLAs would support Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls only if Krishna was made the nominee.
"Krishna became a RS member and later the KPCC chief too, won the Assembly elections in 1999 and became the chief minister. I, along with Jayachandra prepared the list of cabinet ministers and it was sent to Delhi for approval. But to my surprise, my name was missing from the final list. I consulted my astrologer Dwarkanath, who asked me to 'kick in and demand' what was my due and I did the same," said Shivakumar, adding that he told Krishna that there was no question of anybody taking the oath the following morning if his name was not included in the list.
"I had kicked on Krishna's door at two in the morning, that day. I told him I had stood by him and was only asking what was rightfully mine," said Shivakumar.
BJP leader and LOP R Ashok poked Shivakumar by asking if he intended to "kick and demand" the CM's post now. "What is your astrologer telling you now? I heard he advised you to occupy CM's chair before January," said Ashok.
Shivakumar smiled at the proposition and said, "If I tell you what my astrologer has told me, three-fourths of BJP legislators and the JDS will cross over to my side."
An embarrassed Ashok joked that perhaps Shivakumar was planning to join the BJP.
DKS and Sidda's claim for the CM chair: The story so far
It may be recalled that as soon as the Congress won 135 seats to oust the BJP government in Karnataka in May 2023, both Siddaramaiah and DKS had staked their claim to the chief ministership. If Shivakumar wanted a “return gift” for reviving a party that was in tatters following the mass desertions of 2019, Siddaramaiah pointed to the overwhelming support of the party MLAs who backed him for the job.
Shivakumar argued that Siddaramaiah had already served a full term as chief minister and it was only fair to follow the tradition of making the party president chief minister. While both leaders took credit for the near 5 per cent increase in vote share, Shivakumar reasoned that his Vokkaliga community had voted for the Congress to see their own chief minister. As a counter, Siddaramaiah said he was the state's undisputed Ahinda leader with the support of minorities, backward classes and Dalits.
After days of deliberations, the party high command had convinced Shivakumar to settle for deputy chief minister's post and there were strong rumours of a secret power-sharing pact mooted by the party leadership to placate him.
