Interview: For me, the party comes first, says D.K. Shivakumar

Karnataka deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar wears several hats. President of the Karnataka Congress for the past five years, he also holds the ministerial portfolios of Bengaluru development and water resources. Popularly known as DK, the 62-year-old has been forthright about his ambition to be chief minister, but he puts loyalty to the party above personal ambition; in his own words: “For me the party comes first and then everything else — if the party is there, we’re all there.”

The eight-time MLA speaks to Naheed Ataulla about the party’s commitment to fulfilling its pre-poll guarantees, the discriminatory devolution of funds from the Centre, the NEP, and more. Excerpts:

At the halfway point of the Congress government’s rule in the state, how would you rate its performance?

We are delivering stage by stage; whatever we had promised in our manifesto. A lot of issues still remain to be addressed. A sum of Rs 56,000 crore has been earmarked in the state budget for the [five] guarantees. On an average, if Rs 200 crore is given in the 225 assembly constituencies, we will have empowered the people.

No farmers’ suicides are being reported and we are receiving a lot of positive feedback because each family is saving Rs 4,000–5,000 per month through Gruhalakshmi Yojana (Rs 2,000 per month to the woman head in the family) and Gruhajyothi Yojana (free power up to 200 units). The quantity of free rice has been increased from 5 kg to 10 kg per month. At no point of time has the government let anyone go hungry.

While BJP-ruled states like Maharashtra are failing to honour electoral promises, Karnataka has not wavered so far, despite some complaints that the Rs 56,000 crore earmarked for the five guarantees has hindered Karnataka’s other development projects.

Funds are being released for other areas too, whether it is the public works department or urban development, irrigation or social welfare. For instance, Rs 16,000 crore has been earmarked for irrigation. Under the Panchayat Raj and Urban Local Bodies’ Act amendments, money is directly transferred to the panchayats. The government cannot meddle.

Should the chief minister re-do the allocations?

We can’t stop the guarantees and we will not stop. We have already pipelined them. What we should ensure is that those who are financially sound don’t avail of these benefits.

What are the other concerns?

Education is a big concern and Karnataka is committed to rectify it. We are not happy with the National Education Policy (NEP) and are restructuring it. Similarly, we oppose the draft rules of the University Grants Commission which seek to take away the states’ powers in the appointment of vice-chancellors. With most of the medical and engineering colleges located in south India, students from the north come here. Though we are not in favour of a national language and prefer our children to learn in the local language, yet we have been promoting English-medium schools to equip our students to compete globally.

Southern states have been complaining of stepmotherly treatment by the Centre, especially in fiscal matters. What is Karnataka’s experience?

Karnataka is also experiencing stepmotherly treatment. The Centre should know that the more it helps Karnataka, the more India will benefit globally. Karnataka is recognised by the entire world. If India wants to be strong, it should help Karnataka.

Your brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, had said the southern states may seek a separate nation if this continues?

My brother had voiced concern regarding devolution of funds. During the inauguration of the Global Investors’ Meet (11 February 2025) in Bengaluru, defence minister Rajnath Singh admitted Karnataka is a state where people should invest because of its technology, innovation and human resources.

As minister in charge of Bengaluru, what has been the progress on your ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative aimed at positioning the city as a global destination, a technology hub and a major economic centre?

I don’t think I have succeeded fully. As Bengaluru is not a planned city, a lot of funds are needed. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has agreed to guarantee nearly Rs 40,000 crore. We are planning to invest Rs 1 lakh crore this year for the Metro rail, solid waste management, tunnelling of roads, flyovers and business corridors.

Your pet projects for Bengaluru — the proposed 18.5 km tunnel road from Hebbal to Central Silk Board, a Skydeck near NICE road, metro-cum-road flyovers, extending Bengaluru Metro to its outskirts, a Disneyland-style park near KRS dam in Mandya — seem to be facing hurdles…

There are no hurdles. I am holding back the Skydeck because the venue for the second airport has not been finalised yet. The Airports Authority of India has said the second airport should be 20 km away from the Skydeck. We have identified MK Pura in Bengaluru Rural.

You’ve spoken in the past about offers from the BJP… did you ever waver?

I don’t want to discuss this. I stand committed to the Congress and the Gandhi family.

You also said you’d wait for your turn (to become CM). How long are you willing to wait?

You make a list of all the seniors who are eligible to become chief minister. Let my number come.

When will your number come?

I have to ask my party president.

There’s speculation about a change of guard later this year and about some disgruntled JD(S) and BJP legislators joining the Congress?

Not only JD(S) MLAs, but their party workers also feel they should identify with a national outfit. Only those who don’t have a place in the Congress or the BJP are in JD(S). Some JD(S) leaders have identified with the BJP for their political survival—I will not name them.

In the past five years as KPCC president, have you been able to convert the Congress into a cadre-based party?

I have not succeeded. I recently had a meeting with Youth Congress workers and told them I did not want felicitations, garlands or shawls. I asked them to make every booth a digital booth. I told them to constitute committees at every panchayat level where all sections of society are included, with native-born leaders. The pattern of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendment should be the model for the Congress party.

If the Congress rule of ‘one man, one post’ were applied, which of your responsibilities would you keep?

I will leave the decision to my party high command. I have one desire: to build 100 Congress offices in the entire state and I am in the process of doing that. By March, I will identify the sites and lay the foundation for what will be the temples for our party workers.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi underlines the need for a caste census, but something seems to be holding Karnataka back from releasing the results of the caste survey done over a decade ago. Do you feel the survey was not scientific?

In Karnataka, what was done was a socio-economic and education survey. Rahul Gandhi wants a caste census, which the Centre has to do. The socio-economic survey was done scientifically. We spent Rs 150 crore to conduct it and we are in the process of making it public.

As a senior Congress leader, do you have a formula for greater coherence and better coordination between the INDIA bloc partners?

Though INDIA bloc was born in Bengaluru, we were just the host. Everything vests with the Congress leadership. This is a matter to be discussed in the Congress Working Committee.

How do you view political developments at the national level: NDA versus the Congress?

The sun has to rise and then set. That is the law of nature and it applies to every political party. There were days when we had only two BJP leaders —Vajpayee and Advani — in Parliament. Today, there are 240 BJP MPs. Similarly, a day will come when the Congress will be in bigger numbers in the Lok Sabha. The Congress being divided into north and south India resulted in regional parties taking our vote share. That was a blow. Even in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh we lost our share. In politics, nothing is impossible.

What makes the Congress high command rely on you in troubled times? What’s your USP?

Loyalty. Secondly, delivery and taking opponents head on. For me, the party comes first and then everything else — if the party is there, we are all there.