Introduction of Mr DK Shivakumar
D. K. Shivakumar : An Introduction
For the people of Karnataka Mr D. K. Shivakumar needs no introduction. He is a house-hold name in the State. He is a well known public figure, known to all politicians and Statemen, across al parties, all over the country.
Born on 15th May 1962, as the first son of Mr Kempe Gowda and Ms Gouramma of Dodda Alahalli village in Kanakapura taluk, Mr D. K. Shivakumar inherited leadership qualities from his father. At the young age of 18, he joined National Students Union of India, the student wing of the Indian National Congress Party, and became its President for the Bangalore district unit at an early age (1981-83).
While studying at Ram Narayan Chellaram College in Bangalore Mr D. K. Shivakumar joined the Youth Congress and was elected its General Secretary for its State Unit. Later, as President of the Bangalore Rural District Youth Congress, he organized free health check-up and blood donation camps in the rural areas of Kanakapura taluk and became blue-eyed boy of the area.
In 1985, when the most influential leader of Janata Dal Mr H.D. Deve Gowda contested at the Satanur Legislaative Assembly Constituency, the Congress Party found a good candidate in Mr D. K. Shivakumar and fielded him againt Mr H. D. Deve Gowda. Mr D. K. Shivakumar gave a tough fight to Mr H. D. Deve Gowda. Though Mr H D Deve Gowda won that poll, he realized that it was not an easy victory for him.
In 1987, he was elected member of the Bengaluru Rural Zilla Panchayat from Satanur Constituency.
In 1989, he contested from the Satanur Legislative Assembly Constituency representing Indian National Congress Party. Mr D. K. Shivakumar won with the seat with a thumping majority.
Mr D. K. Shivakumar played an important role in 1991, in bringing Sarekoppa Bangarappa Government to power and was appointed Minister for Prisons, who was then the youngest Minister in his Cabinet.
However, in the next election in 1994, his opponents were successful in denying him the party ticket. Undeterred Mr D. K. Shivakumar contested as a rebel candidate and continued his winning-spree.
In 1999,When Mr S.M. Krishna was elected President of the Congress Party, Mr D. K. Shivakumar stood as a rock and supported him in all spheres. The Congress Party won a resounding victory at the elections to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Mr D. K. Shivakumar was instrumental in bringing the party to victory and in forming the Government..
When Mr S.M. Krishna started the election campaign by blowing Panchajanya, Mr D. K. Shivakumar had organized a historic Yatra, which brought Congress Party to power with 139 seats and helped to form Government on its own strength.Mr D. K. Shivakumar was able to win again for the third time in a row. Mr S.M. Krishna appointed him as a Cabinet Minister by allocating the portfolio Co-operation. Mr. D.K. Shivakumar was given recognition for his hard work (1999-2002).
In 2002, Mr D. K. Shivakumar served as Minister of Urban Development and the Chairman of the State Planning Board. As the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-committee, he led the “Rajiv Yuva Shakti” organizations to organize the youth and settle them in life in the State. Mr D. K. Shivakumar was instrumental in starting Stree Shakthi the first women’s empowerment organization in the world.
In 1999, the Congress Party had given ticket Mr D. K. Shivakumar to contest against his arch rival Mr H.D. Deve Gowda’s son Mr H. D. Kumaraswamy from Satanur constituency once again. Though Mr H D Deve Gowda had the glamour of Prime Minister, Mr H. D. Kumaraswamy lost the election. Mr D. K. Shivakumar was victorious.
When the Congress-JDS Coalition Government was formed for the first time in 2004, Mr S.M. Krishna was sidelined as per the dictate of the alliance partner, Mr Dharm Singh had was made Chief Minister. But, it was Mr D. K. Shivakumar, who persuaded the higher-ups in the party to get the gubernatorial post of the Governor of Maharashtra for Mr S.M. Krishna, who was his mentor.
In 2004, Mr D. K. Shivakumar came out with flying colours at Satanur Legislative Assembly constituency for the fourth consecutive term. But, the Congress party failed to win majority.
Due to lack of majority to form the Government on its own, the Congress Party had to align itself with Janata Dal (Secular) led by Mr H. D. Deve Gowda, to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party, an advocate of communalism, to garner power.
Thus, for the first time in the History of the State, the Congress-JDS alliance emerged as a coalition Government. Unfortunately, there was no place for Mr D K Shivakumar in the Cabinet, as it was one of the conditions of the alliance partner to keep him at bay. However, Mr D. K. Shivakumar swallowed the insult in the interest of the State as in general and in the interest of the Congress party, in particular. Mr D. K. Shivakumar devoted his time for rejuvenating and reorganizing the Congress Party.
Mr D. K. Shivakumar soon succeeded in replying to the vengeful politics JDS Supremo in his own style by fielding a woman scribe Ms Tejaswini Gowda, who was not at all connected or related to politics against Mr H. D. Deve Gowda at the General Elections of Parliament in 2006. Mr H. D. Deve Gowda had to taste the defeat.
When there was sudden political instability in Maharashtra, as per the instructions of the Congress Party Mr D. K. Shivakumar provided shelter to legislators, rescued them from Horse Trading and saved Vilasrao Deshmukh’s Coalition Government. It was a feather in the cap for Mr D. K. Shivakumar.
Mr D. K. Shivakumar was actively participating in the activities of the Congress party, though the Congress Party ally the Janata Dal had kept him out of power.
In 2008 When Mr S.M. Krishna wanted to relinquish the post of Governor and re-enter politics, he was brought in and again elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.
It was Mr D. K. Shivakumar , who made Mr S. M. Krishna to contest the Rajya Sabha Seat and re-enter politics.
Eyebrows were raised when Mr D. K. Shivakumar garnered the support from the Janata Dal Secular to Mr S.M. Krishna, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha was joined the Union Government as Minister for External Affairs. This proved Mr D. K. Shivakumar’s political acumen.
Mr D. K. Shivakumar has the distinction of being the first Legislator in the country to establish a video conference facility in Kanakapura Constituency and thereby directly connecting with people of the constituency, which facilitated the rural folk to directly talk to their legislator, voice their grievances and resolve their grievances. This saved money and precious time, not merely of the legislator, but also of the public.
Mr D. K. Shivakumar has groomed many people including film actress Ms Ramya. She became Member of Parliament from Mandya, no doubt with the blessings of the people , but surely with the efforts of Mr D. K. Shivakumar.
In 2013, when the Congress party returned to power and Mr Siddaramaiah was elected Chief Minister, some opponents inside the party fabricated stories against him and stalled him Mr D. K. Shivakumar to get a berth in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet. But, after knowing the facts, after seven months Mr D. K. Shivakumar was inducted in to the Siddaramaiah Government as Minister for Energy.
At this juncture, Mr D. K. Shivakumar used his organizational skills, political strategy brought the Congress candidates an unprecedented victory in the bi-elections to two constituencies, wresting them from the Janata Dal Secular.
When Mr D. K. Shivakumar assumed office as Minister for Energy , there was radical reforms in the Energy Sector in the State. He canceled several power purchase agreements signed during previous governments. Not only that, he led to the formation of the House Committee on illegal purchase of electricity in the earlier Government. Raitha Surya Yojana was designed to give a fillip to farmers, owning lands to produce power from 1 to 3 MW, which gave boost to solar power generation.
The Union Government openly praised this project of the State Government and asked to emulate the Karnataka Model.
When the JDS-Congress led Government that came in 2018, Mr D. K. Shivakumar was Minister for Kannada and Culture and Water Resources. He planned to develop Brindavan Gardens at Krishna Raja Sagar on Disneyland Model and to install a Statue of Cauvery, which is called the Ganges of the South.
Mr D. K. Shivakumar has worked as a loyal soldier of the Congress party for four decades. He has never succumbed to any pressures or temptations at any time.
In 2017, on the directions from party high command Mr D. K. Shivakumar provided shelter and protected Congress Legislators from Gujarat in Karnataka, for which he had to pay a heavy price.
The Union Government resorted to politics of hate by misusing the Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate and other Government agencies. These agencies they not merely attacked him but also his family members. Mr D. K. Shivakumar was jailed for few month. The AICC President Ms Sonia Gandhi herself visited the jail and consoled Mr D. K. Shivakumar, which was a testimony for his loyalty.
Party Organization as KPCC President:
After his return from Jail, Ms Sonia Gandhi appointed Mr D. K. Shivakumar as KPCC President on March 11, 2020.
Adverse political challenges on the one hand and Covid-19 pandemic on the other hand¸ Mr D. K. Shivakumar worked for the people, inspired the party cadre to serve the people and and earned their good will, which was bore fruit during the General Elections, this time.
Mr D. K. Shivakumar is now the DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER of Karnataka from May 20, 2023.
