‘D.K. Shivakumar: Congress’s Crisis Manager, Karnataka’s Kingmaker’, a book by senior political journalist Rasheed Kidwai, is set for release in July. Meanwhile, Karnataka has been witnessing major political events, with Siddaramiah stepping down as chief minister and making way for D. K. Shivakumar.
Mr. Kidwai talks to The Hindu about the book, what stands out about the new CM, and why he considers the ‘Kanakapura Bande’ (rock of Kanakapura) an astute regional strongman with national appeal, a rare breed within the Congress.
Why a book on D. K. Shivakumar?
While there are many books about late politicians, there are not many about those who are in the political arena. So, I chose to write about some of them because, in a vibrant democracy, it is important to know who you are voting for, and what they stand for.
I have been covering Congress party for about 25 years now. The conversation around Congress is largely concentrated on the Gandhi family. But there are also very strong regional leaders. This tribe is on the decline, though, and that is the tragedy of the Congress.
Such powerful regional leaders with gravitas and heft always draw my attention. DKS is one such leader, and I wanted to document him.
There are very few leaders who would match his stature and whose utility for the party goes beyond the State. Case in point is how he safeguarded MLAs from Gujarat when Ahmed Patel was facing difficulties when he contested for a seat in the Rajya Sabha.
He carries his principles into practical politics with ease. Here is a man who’s very happy to flaunt his religious affiliations, who would sing the RSS song in the State Assembly and get away with it, who would cheer for the victory of cricket teams…
Any political party needs people with strong roots in society, which is something Congress has lost over the years. When it comes to DKS, you can idolise him, criticise him, mock him, but his deep social anchoring is undeniable.
What are your views on the power transition?
The rotational chief minister model is a flawed strategy. This ‘two-and-a-half-year tenure’ is not there in any book of political science. So, it’s an innovation in that sense.
In 2018, Rahul Gandhi posted a picture on Twitter with Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia along with a Leo Tolstoy quote that stated: ‘the two most powerful warriors are patience and time’. Mr. Scindia, of course, lost patience and joined the BJP. Congress faced this problem is several States.
But DKS believed in patience and time, and it worked in his favour.
What also stood out during this transition is the way Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramiah have conducted themselves. Mr. Siddaramaiah passed the loyalty test with flying colours.
He sought more time to create the record of the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka, and he got it. When Rahul Gandhi summoned him and asked him to step down, he agreed, and he was told to receive the socio-economic survey report. It takes two to tango. Both Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramiah acted with grace. It’s very rare in politics.
What surprising aspects about DKS emerged while researching for the book?
His family values, and his never-ending desire to excel. Many defections have taken place in the Congress. But, DKS started his politics from the Youth Congress, and that kind of background makes him very solid.
What style of governance do you expect from DKS in the coming days?
Very different from that of Mr. Siddaramaiah. DKS would be a lot more flamboyant and unconventional. He knows there are high expectations from him.
Age is on his side. At 64, he’s neither young nor old. He has at least 10 more years to go.
His biggest task is to ensure victory for the Congress in the 2029 elections. It is a tall order. In 2024, when Mr. Siddaramaiah and DKS campaigned together, they got only nine Lok Sabha seats. This time, Mr. Shivakumar would be expected to ensure victory for the Congress in 20 or more of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka.
