Karnataka Game of Thrones: DK Shivakumar Set To Replace Siddaramaiah As CM

Añadido: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]uh you know uh Shankar the sense that you know okay it's a done deal right now right what do you believe is going to be the road ahead so far DK Shukumar was the contender Siddaraya was the man holding the post now the roles tend to reverse DK Shukumar is going to be the chief minister Sidar is going to be the old war waror of the Congress or the socialist old socialist who's going to be out of power what do you believe is going to be the crucial challenge the the answer to that question is there in today's CM's press conference he has very told that very he will be active he will be a part of whatever is happening and he will support the government and dikeshumar to run a very successful congress government and you know it's just two years two years is going to get over in a flash our focus is one on giving excellent governance and coming back to power in 2028 and I'm sure under the leadership of dikesumar we are going to come back >> okay I I want to ask this one question to Mr. Mr. Goa I'm going to put him in a >> and we need to post questions to Nagaraju Yadav as well.

[00:00:57]>> I'm going to ask this is your team really okay with having multiple deputy chief minister Mr. Go. I'm I know it's a it's I'm going to put you in a spot of bother.

[00:01:05]>> That that's a answer that >> Yes. How many?

[00:01:07]>> No, no. I'm I'm I'm nobody to answer this question. This is Delhi High Commander will answer this question.

[00:01:12]>> Let me put that question to Nagaraju Yadav. Nagaraju Yadav. Do you believe there will be multiple deputy chief ministers in terms of the road road ahead and the contours of the next cabinet? What do you expect?

[00:01:23]No it is whether there's going to be a number of deputy chief minister or not is not the question that we want to take as just now said that that is a continuation of the guard and we want to take and implement whatever the manifesto has been we have promised we want to take forward the good governance given by the honorable president chief minister and high command will take a call to accommodate any other deputy chief has only single chief deputy chief minister if there is definitely demand from various communities too. Keeping elections in forthcoming elections in 2028, they may accommodate other communities too. That that is not a problem at all because as a cabinet minister, various community leaders are working if they have to be elevated from their communities. Deputy chief minister definitely the demand may be taken care by the as such in the interest of giving social justice and opportunity to other communities too. And we want to prove that that we are been all these years inclusive governance and we'll continue to be a part of the enclosing governance research and with the with the phenomena of constitutional norms.

[00:02:32]>> All right. Phenomenon of constitutional norms. There will be inclusive governance. I'd love to get BS Arun and Anurag Naidu into this conversation as well. But before that could we just play for our viewers uh sound bites from Sidaraya's press conference because that was a extraordinarily important press conference uh you know let's just let's just play those sound bites from that press conference and get back to Nagaraju Yadav Via Sarun and Anurra Naidu whatever sir Liberal party takes edition leader party takes edition and I command takes a decision He will be the chief minister of this state.

[00:03:24]Raja, Bhanali, Rajina.

[00:03:46]I command I will continue in occupics.

[00:04:25]Okay. Hey BS Arun, what's your sense of that press conference? I'll go back to Nagaraji Yadav but very briefly. BS Arun, what's your sense from that press conference? Siddhar maya sending out to my mind three very important messages.

[00:04:37]One, I may have resigned but I haven't retired. I'm still going to be active in politics and I'm going to be active in state politics. I'm not going to run away to New Delhi. That's number one.

[00:04:46]Number two, he's saying that look, I will allow for this transition of power to be very very smooth. What do you believe? What's your big takeaway from that press conference?

[00:04:57]>> Yes, Vira most important thing is he will stay put in Bangalore in Karnataka and he won't go to Delhi because he's not interested in that and in that he has shown that you know he will sit in perhaps in the back back benches of Vidan Soda whenever the session is held and he will watch closely how Tik Shukar performs. See there are some of the very projects that that were fed to him and one of the most important thing [clears throat] uh issue was the cost census uh the report of which second one was submitted to him just yesterday and uh we know the contents of the report and it's very important also and that is uh you know he will be taking on the major cast major communities and in favor of the backward and uh backward classes and uh the uh Muslim. So he will see how how TK Shukumar will implement this. I think this is going to be a big challenge as chief minister I don't think Shukumar can oppose this but as the leader of the Valigas what he will do because along with some lingad ministers it was DK Shukumar who opposed this cost senses the recommendations of which are not very dissimilar to the earlier one. So in the position when he has already taken the position can he afford to cher and you know speak against his own community I think this is going to be a very big issue and take shukumar I think we'll have to trade cautiously here and with sidrama clearly saying that he will be in Bangalore and in active politics I think he will make a demand that this should be implemented forth with or at least in the near future.

[00:06:47]>> Uh that is one of the biggest decisions I think that Shukar needs >> right important point that you're making >> and you know >> the consensus and high command also is in favor of the >> very important point you're outlining the first few challenges.

[00:07:04]No, no, you're making a very very important point. Nagaraju Yadav, >> what most of us are trying to figure out what's the optics of having the car survey report being submitted on the last day before resignation? What's the real optics? What's the real messaging?

[00:07:18]Is it a headache being left behind for the next chief minister or is it about assertion that this is a promise I made and I have delivered on it before I left? Nagarajy >> coming to state to the point we are very much aware ND viewers also aware the country is aware Rahul Gandhi is very much upon to have a cast in the country as such in continuation of that that the state government under the leadership of cast was conducted earlier also when he was principally 10 years old and the new system was the new survey was also conducted under NY and the report was submitted as such the report was due He was submitted 15 days before itself. But you know a coincidence that he he received it one day before his resignation as such. But one thing is sure the government of Karnataka the Congress ideology is that that we have to know which community stands and what is the status of committee as such may be representing community but he is the chief minister led by the Congress party under the leadership of Malik and Rahul Gi and Gi. The ideology is that that we should know all the communities which are in the which are existing the state of Karnataka and know the status of them and we should do the >> BUT DK SHIVUMAR HAS BEEN AMONGST those who opposed the earlier cast survey.

[00:08:37]Nagaraju Yadav the reason why I'm asking this is because DK Shivkumar was amongst those who opposed the earlier cast survey. He in fact signed amongst Vocal Liga leaders to not release that earlier cast survey. uh you know there is a sense that dominant casts have been a little worried about the cast survey and you know that very well. No, he had an apprentice on the Kantra report and hence and since it was legally not valued new new report was been given under the leadership of Madus no who was the chairman of the permanent backward class commission as such. This backward class commission was set up with the consultation of DK Shukar also as a deputy chief minister in the cabinet of the Congress government and he is the one who was given an order for that the same backward class commission commission senses as such which is submitted in his governance as such he is a deputy chief minister and all the decision taken in presence of him also there's no question of anybody going away from the decision taken by the cabinet as such and it is a boundary duty of the next chief minister to take forward the report given by Madus Nayak in the interest of the social justice and constitutional norms to be kept up as we promised in the manifesto and Rahul Gandhi intend to do that.

[00:09:53]All right. Okay. You're making an important point. Nagaraju Yadav is saying that why are you guys making so much of the socioeconomic survey report being submitted in the last day? It's a promise Rahul Gandhi has made and it's a promise that the Congress government has delivered. But I'll get Anuda Naidu also in and also with me here at the location is Nikl who's a senior journalist. How do you see very very briefly this lastm minute cast survey twist that came in last evening? Raa we very well know that Sedraaya has positioned himself as the champion of the OBC cause if he wouldn't accept this report who else would and then like you've mentioned very importantly this is also some kind of a challenge and a headache that this chief minister is leaving behind for the next coming chief minister and now this will also have a bearing on the kind of cabinet composition we'll have it'll have a bearing on the kind of repres representation we'll have in the deputy chief minister's post no to those who've not followed let me just explain that the cast survey report also means once it's accepted and tabled in the assembly and accepted it means that you need to rejig internal reservations in the state because it recommends increasing of reservation from 38 to 42% for OBC several changes >> receiving VA this is just receiving it is it there's a long drawn process we should understand that it was the same chief minister who commissioned the first cast census or the socioeconomic and educ educational survey >> he at that point in time couldn't you know accept that and later you know you had at least Mr. Hikumar Swami who who said he will do something about it didn't you had Mr. Yedapa who again didn't do anything about it you had Mr. Bombay who didn't finally Mr. Sidra came back to only have his own cabinet colleagues opposite it.

[00:11:30]>> But but you know >> no no no you you guys are right. I'll tell you what I'll tell you what it could be two things. One is that it since he has accepted it. It's it goes as his legacy and doesn't go as DK Shukumar's legacy. But the cabinet under the next chief minister will have to decide on whether to place it before the assembly or not. Ra and the next chief minister is already against this.

[00:11:50]>> He has been very vocal about it. The next chief minister is already vocal about it and he's against it.

[00:11:55]>> Okay.

[00:11:56]He has not been against it vocally because from a community perspective the community which backs him is against it.

[00:12:04]He has always said Mr. Rahul Gandhi wants the cast survey to be done and we will implement it is officially what his stance has been but I know what you're saying from coming from the vakila community which have opposed it. It is not going to be easy for him to >> implement. I think there there are multiple ways to look at it. One of the ways to look at it is that an OBC chief minister is being replaced and hence the promise that was made to the OBC for to the backward classes in terms of that cast survey is being implemented. Uh Anurag Naidu how do you see this uh very briefly do you believe that that's going to become the touching point? Do you also believe that the BJP's reaction would now be gauged based on the social coalitions that the Congress is going to build?

[00:12:43]V too good to be true moment for the congress and there is a reason for that you know it's not often that you have an accomplished longest serving chief minister walking away with such silence no VA there are two important news points today oh I'm so sorry Anurra Naidu your uh your we seem to be having a problem with Anurag Naidu's line I promised to give him a little more time because I cut him short yesterday. Now because of uh uh the internet and connections, we're not able to go back to him. Uh Anurra, can you hear me? Let me just make a quick attempt at trying to get him back. Anur uh no Anurag's Alliance lost. BS Arun, why don't you weigh in on that point on the last minute twist on the cast survey? Uh you know this morning all the local papers the lead was not about the fact that the chief minister will resign. It's about the fact that the outgoing chief minister accepted a cast survey on the last day.

[00:13:48]>> Yes, it's very important. One, the uh chief minister was from the backward classes. He was a massive leader of the backward classes of the Aenda group and now is being replaced by the by a leader from the dominant community. So that is one thing and second thing is the Cong Congress high commander have been demanding cost census and even it forced the central government to uh you know introduce cost senses as part of the national census which will start next year. So the this is the background for this and now the new government will have to take a call on the submission on the report has been submitted and as Deepak said you know it will take a long time. Last time there were many committees of the sub subcommittees of the cabinet which was set up and it took a lot of time before the uh uh you know the they they finalized the uh reservation formula and then it came to cabinet and there it was the formula was accepted but then finally the report was junked. So the report the juncting of the report made the uh you know backwards very very unhappy while the for lingua and the vocal leaguers. I I think this you know certainly goes against the Congress ethos. Congress you know politics is what it stands for because from the beginning traditionally Congress has got the support of the Dalins and the back classes in Karnataka and you know elsewhere where it's strong and now to junk them I think party will have to you know take that into consideration. uh you know >> you're making a very important point VA earlier making the point that the larger social coalitions of the Congress have remained intact and those who know the congress's history go back to da Auror as far as building this ainda coalition that we are talking about now is concerned in a sense it's while Sudaramya is credited with coining this new ainda term it is an old social reality of the congress which was first brought under draar when he decided to bring an antidote to the vocal and linga nomination but Anurag Naidu I believe you're with us. Go ahead Anurak Naidu you were making a point the internet played foul with you.

[00:16:00]>> No V for me there was two important news points VA one is he going to Delhi he said he's not going to Delhi and the most important for me when I was listening to his speech he said he's going to be active in the politics and he will fight the communal forces. Now my question is second news point is is of course the cast census. Now that's the catch. Now if the cast census is not rolled out before the next election and in the manner in which Sidra maya always wanted it to be it'll be a difficult game for the congress because then he can always claim when I was the chief minister this was not the understanding when I was the chief minister this was something that I wanted to do and you've got to do this vira and for for for DK shukumar is going to be challenging because then he represents a community which is which is not very much in the favor but again there are other sides we in Congress at this point in needs an organizational leader, needs somebody who can lead the party from the front and prepare for the next election. Not just next election, the 2029 Lok Sabha.

[00:16:57]I've given to understand Rahul Gandhi is very serious about 2029 preparation and he need people who are fire brands who can deliver for the party.

[00:17:08]Okay, you're saying he needs Firebrand to deliver for the party. But I'll tell you the best bit of news right now. The cool breeze there is going to be a thundersh shower. Finally Bengaluru feels like Bengaluru this evening after a day of full heat sweltering heat there is cool breeze that's coming.

[00:17:25]>> You were worrying V that our predictions will go wrong. You know whenever in Bengaluru it's hot everyone in the city will say it's going to rain this evening. Yesterday I told many of the I told many of the Delhi journalists that you know it's going to rain but today I said if it's day two then the rain is going to be very heavy and I think the clouds are signaling that. You know I may not be a native of the land but I'm as Bangalorean as you are having spent the last 30 years here vigorously but I get it you know in a sense that the cool weather uh you know and the flights have gone to Delhi very briefly Nikl as you as we close this conversation what would you believe are going to be the key things that you look out for is there a string at the end of the tail or do you believe everything will be smooth at Hanko >> no I mean it it'll be smooth at the outset but there are going to be internal rumblings even after today.

[00:18:12]There are going to be those who will be bickering for a cabinet birth and then there'll be those who be bickering for particular portfolios. Then there will be this faction feud in the cabinet. How many of DK's representative? How many of Sidraaya's people are there? And how how much of a say does high command have in the cabinet? It's not easy boss. Plus the road is we can see the road ahead but there are some speed breakers, there are some bumps and we cannot deny that.

[00:18:35]>> Is it going to be like Bengaluru roads or is it going to be like a highway? But now of course Bengaluru roads have improved. How many potholes is taking or rather it's all set to improve even even further because DB elections are coming and we know when elections especially with the city are coming the roads are going to get better and hopefully because monsoon's coming and elections are a blessing probably.

[00:18:51]>> Okay. So let me conclude with this comment that DK Shivumar has handled Bengaluru city potholes as the Bengaluru development minister. Now he'll have to learn to address the political potholes as the chief minister.

[00:19:04]>> Absolutely. Just how he's played his cards over the last three years since that 2023 victory is also a fascinating textbook in patience, perseverance and constantly proddding [music] and reminding everyone that he is a challenger yet not allowing it to escalate to the level of a rebellion. He had the backing of the old guard of the congress which was always wary of Sudaraya. But this report encapsulates how DKar played his cards over the last three years. We leave you with this report.

[00:19:38]For nearly 3 years, Karnataka Congress functioned with a visible dual power center. On one side, Siddharaya, the mass leader, seasoned administrator [music] and dominant backward class face of the Congress in Karnataka.

[00:19:53]On the other, DK Shiva, the organizational strategist who rebuilt the Congress in the state and played a crucial role in bringing the party back [music] to power.

[00:20:06]What began as a balancing act slowly evolved into a silent political tug of war. And through it all, Dikkesh Shiva Kumar chose patience over confrontation.

[00:20:16]While Sedaraya projected stability and continuity, Shivakumar focused on something else, political positioning.

[00:20:24]He rarely [music] escalated the confrontation publicly, rarely made aggressive claims in [music] front of cameras.

[00:20:32]I don't know what is tell me. I don't know. I'll ask him. If he ask me to come, I'll go. Otherwise, I'll be stay.

[00:20:39]Whenever the party calls, we have to go.

[00:20:42]Otherwise, I will not go.

[00:20:44]>> DKS never directly challenged the chief minister. Instead, he crafted the image of a loyal party soldier, a leader willing to wait, a leader willing to sacrifice ambition for unity.

[00:21:13]and a leader deeply aligned with the Congress high command. Even when the speculation intensified and even when rival camps [music] traded bobs and when the leadership question threatened to overshadow governance, Sidaraya retained strong [music] support among legislators.

[00:21:31]He remained the government's biggest mass base and many within the party believed his political weight made any transition difficult.

[00:21:40]Congress knew how prolonged factional battles can weaken governments, drain carter morale and hand political ammunition to opponents.

[00:21:49]That is why increasingly the Karnataka question became less about personalities and more about damage control. And in that environment, DK Shiva Kumar's approach gave him a key advantage. For him, this was never a short sprint. It was a long political negotiation. Bureau Report, NDTV.