BENGALURU: While deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar met Ahinda and Lingayat representatives to strengthen his claim to the chief minister post, Delhi police issued a notice seeking his financial and transactional details in the
National Herald case, marking a potential setback.
The Economic Offences Wing notice, dated Nov 29, states Shivakumar may possess "vital information" related to the case against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, registered on Nov 30. He has been asked to appear or submit details by Dec 19.
Shivakumar's aides claim he is being targeted for "not playing ball" with BJP, calling him the "most persecuted" Congress member. The notice comes in the wake of a series of closed-door meetings, dinner huddles and public engagements Shivakumar has had over the past week with top representatives and leaders beyond his traditional support base.
Shivakumar, long backed by the Vokkaliga community and several influential seers, appears keenly aware that this support, concentrated largely in Old Mysore region, may not be sufficient to strengthen his claim to the top post. The 2024 Lok Sabha election setbacks — including the defeat of his brother DK Suresh in Bangalore Rural and Congress' loss in Mandya — have dented his broader social coalition.
In contrast, chief minister
Siddaramaiah continues to command a more stable Ahinda support base, cutting across caste and regional lines. Sources say this contrast has pushed Shivakumar to accelerate efforts to connect with Ahinda groups and Veerashaiva-Lingayat representatives in recent days, broadening what has traditionally been a Vokkaliga-dominated network.
The shift was visible Thursday night when Shivakumar engaged in a 15-minute discussion with public works minister Satish Jarkiholi at a wedding reception in Bengaluru. Speaking on the interaction, he said, "Yes, it is true that Jarkiholi and I met last night at a wedding. We discussed issues related to the state and party. We are colleagues. Why do you look at us as if we are rivals?"
The outreach has not been limited to social events. Over the past week, he has also met KJ George, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan — both ministers considered close to Siddaramaiah — in what Congress sources describe as an attempt to secure wider acceptability before the high command takes up the issue of a chief ministerial switch possibly early next year.
On Friday, Shivakumar attended the inauguration of the new Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) building and held a lengthy one-on-one meeting with industries minister MB Patil, a prominent Lingayat face in the cabinet.
However, he played down the meeting, saying: "We sit together for cabinet meetings in the afternoon, meet for dinner and have breakfast together. These interactions are normal. Friendship, camaraderie and personal ties are part of politics. We [he and Patil] discussed how to attract investors to Karnataka, how Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are competing with us, and the upcoming global summit in Telangana. It is natural to discuss the state's progress."
Political observers point out that these meetings come at a time when Congress is expected to revisit the informal understanding on rotation of the CM post. Functionaries within the party say Shivakumar's recent engagements signal a calibrated attempt to demonstrate wider acceptability, especially among ministers outside his caste bloc.
With the Congress high command expected to summon both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after the winter sessions of Parliament, party circles expect political manoeuvring to intensify in coming weeks. Senior Congressmen say the widening of Shivakumar's outreach is likely to play a decisive role in discussions awaiting both in Delhi.
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