Inside Track: What Rahul Gandhi Wants New DK Shivakumar Government To Look Like The Congress party’s leadership has finalized plans for the new government in Karnataka, with Rahul Gandhi issuing clear directives to shape the cabinet under the leadership of DK Shivakumar. The decision follows months of internal conflict over the state’s leadership, culminating in Siddaramaiah’s resignation and Shivakumar’s appointment as the new chief minister. Sources indicate that Gandhi’s focus is on creating a politically balanced administration that reflects the party’s social justice agenda while addressing the demands of key voter groups. Central to Gandhi’s vision is the inclusion of greater representation for Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and minority communities in the new cabinet. This move is seen as a strategic effort to align with the social justice priorities of the Congress party, particularly after the removal of Siddaramaiah, who was the only OBC chief minister in the state. The party faces pressure to address long-standing demands for representation from these communities, which have been a significant part of the DK Shivakumar faction’s political base. Another key directive from Gandhi is the inclusion of younger leaders in the cabinet to signal a generational shift and attract youth support ahead of the 2028 elections. This approach is modeled after Kerala’s political strategy, where younger leaders with ties to the Youth Congress were given ministerial roles. The Congress high command is reportedly planning to replace 25 of the 35 sitting ministers, reassigning many to organizational roles within the party. This overhaul aims to inject fresh energy into the administration while sidelining older, entrenched figures.#karnataka #rahul_gandhi #siddaramaiah #congress_party #dk_shivakumar
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Set to Resign, DKS Poised for Succession Amid Internal Power Struggle Barring a last-minute surprise, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to resign Thursday, marking the end of a political tenure that spanned over eight years and 12 days across two terms. This would surpass the record previously held by his mentor, D Devaraj Urs, and signal a significant shift in Karnataka’s political landscape. A senior official at Karnataka Lok Bhavan confirmed that Siddaramaiah had sought time to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Thursday afternoon, a move expected to clear the path for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to assume the role of the next chief minister. However, the ruling Congress party has remained officially silent on Shivakumar’s elevation, leaving the transition shrouded in uncertainty. Sources indicate that Siddaramaiah is pushing for a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting with the party’s high command to elect his successor. This move is viewed by party insiders as an attempt to block Shivakumar’s path to the top post. Siddaramaiah’s camp believes a formal CLP election could result in home minister G Parameshwara emerging as a consensus candidate, particularly with sections of MLAs expected to support the senior Dalit leader. Such a development would not only delay Shivakumar’s elevation but also allow Siddaramaiah to claim political credit for facilitating Karnataka’s first Dalit chief minister from the Congress. Congress insiders familiar with the developments revealed that Siddaramaiah agreed to step down after directives from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The veteran leader credits Gandhi for backing him to become chief minister twice despite being seen as an outsider within the party structure.#rajya_sabha #karnataka_cm_siddaramaiah #dk_shivakumar #congress_legislature_party #randeep_singh_surjewala
Fresh Cong-BJP Row Over RS Poll Bribery Allegations Four men were arrested in Bengaluru on Sunday for allegedly attempting to bribe eight Congress legislators from Odisha with Rs 5 crore each to vote in favor of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls, scheduled for Monday. The arrests followed allegations made by Karnataka Congress president and deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who claimed the men tried to influence Odisha MLAs during a meeting at a hotel. Shivakumar told reporters, "Four men tried to influence our Odisha MLAs in a hotel by offering them Rs 5 crore each to cross-vote. Following an FIR, all four have been arrested." The BJP dismissed the claims, with spokesperson Anil Biswal stating, "Since Congress is staring at imminent defeat, they're making false claims." Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das, however, alleged that the arrested men were linked to the BJP. Eight of the 14 Congress legislators from Odisha were moved to a Bengaluru resort on Thursday to prevent them from being poached by rival parties. The Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha are shaping up as a high-stakes contest. Five candidates are vying for four seats, with the BJP fielding state president Manmohan Samal and re-nominated MP Sujeet Kumar, while supporting independent candidate Dilip Ray for the third seat. The BJD has nominated Santrupt Misra, and the party is backing independent candidate Datteswar Hota, who is also supported by Congress and the CPM. With strong numbers in their favor, Samal and Kumar are expected to secure their seats, as is Misra of the BJD. The real competition, however, is for the fourth seat, where Hota and Ray are locked in a tight race, with fears of cross-voting and allegations of horse-trading complicating the outcome.#dk_shivakumar #anil_biswal #bhakta_charan_das #manmohan_samal #sujeet_kumar
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Accuses BJP Of Offering Rs 5 Crore To Odisha Congress MLAs, Operation Lotus Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the BJP of attempting to bribe Odisha Congress legislators during a meeting at a resort near Bengaluru. According to Shivakumar, four individuals from Odisha had booked a room with the help of a local person named Suresh and approached eight Congress MLAs staying at the resort. The accused allegedly offered Rs 5 crore per vote to influence cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections. Shivakumar claimed that two of the individuals fled the scene, while the other two were apprehended. The BJP is said to have provided cheques as part of the alleged bribe, but the MLAs refused to accept them. Shivakumar stated that the accused had admitted to their intentions, and a complaint has been filed with the police for further investigation. He also mentioned that the person who booked the hotel online is from the Byatarayanapura locality in Bengaluru. The MLAs reportedly rejected the offer, and the cheques were seized by authorities. Shivakumar emphasized that the BJP’s alleged "Operation Lotus" aimed to sway the Congress legislators, though the MLAs refused to engage with the proposal. Ashok Kumar Das, the Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislative Party in Odisha, filed a complaint with the Bidadi police station, alleging that four individuals attempted to bribe Congress MLAs ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. Das stated that the BJP’s decision to field an additional candidate for the polls had raised concerns about the safety of the legislators. The eight MLAs from Odisha had arrived in Bengaluru on March 12 to avoid potential threats.#bjp #dk_shivakumar #odisha_congress #operation_lotus #suresh
