From Siddaramaiah to DK Shivakumar: Congress hopes Karnataka change of guard will blunt anti-incumbency, fill gaps

NEW DELHI: Congress's surgical operation in Karnataka stems from its estimates of gaps after three years of the Siddaramaiah government and its expectations from DK Shivakumar at the helm, with eyes focused on future political battles - 2028 assembly polls followed by Lok Sabha polls.

The transition from Siddaramaiah to Shivakumar is rooted in the informal arrangement that was made at the time of the selection of CM following a keen tussle between the two for the top post.

But, sources said, the transition also comes at the right time to start with a clean slate to blunt the anti-incumbency that sets-in in Karnataka for every govt. The persistent speculation about a change of guard in the state has hurt Congress in popular perception.

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The three-fold expectation from DKS is rallying of urban base and young voters, and consolidation of Vokkaliga community. He is also expected to spark a renewed perception about governance.

This is viewed by Congress strategists as critical to undoing the popular damage that a party in power suffers in Karnataka. While DKS belongs to the strong agrarian community that populates Bangalore and old Mysuru regions, the alliance between BJP and JDS is seen to have hurt Congress in 2024 Lok Sabha polls after a decent party show in the assembly polls a year ago.

At the same time, it is expected that Shivakumar's "brand of politics" and organisational appeal would bring in urban voters, including the youth, despite the disadvantage of being in power. "He is someone who can do this," a party manager said.

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The assumption is that Ahinda mobilisation kicked in by Siddaramaiah's frontline projection would continue. The party is especially hopeful after the smooth transition ensured by the CM, even though a caution about hiccups had been rife in the party after the negative experience with such sensitive moves in the past.

Congress had been expecting Siddaramaiah to come to Rajya Sabha, but his continuation in the state also suits the party. As the future planning goes, Congress is banking on the addition of new blocs to the old base to take care of the voter drift owing to anti-incumbency.