Now Reading: DK Shivakumar’s rise as Karnataka CM: Kidwai reveals rotational deal
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DK Shivakumar’s rise as Karnataka CM: Kidwai reveals rotational deal
Rasheed Kidwai’s new book on DK Shivakumar claims the Congress leadership had agreed to a rotational chief minister formula after its 2023 Karnataka victory, eventually giving Shivakumar the top post. Kidwai, speaking…
The Story in Brief
Rasheed Kidwai’s new book on DK Shivakumar claims the Congress leadership had agreed to a rotational chief minister formula after its 2023 Karnataka victory, eventually giving Shivakumar the top post. Kidwai, speaking to India Today, says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge once put Rahul Gandhi on speakerphone to confirm the arrangement to those involved. He also disputes the perception that Rahul Gandhi favoured Siddaramaiah while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra backed Shivakumar, asserting that all three Gandhis ultimately supported the current chief minister.
The book covers Shivakumar’s 50 days in Tihar Jail, his overt Hindu identity, and his reputation as a hands-on networker. Kidwai acknowledges that money and resources matter in politics but argues Shivakumar’s organisational skills and political instinct are equally important. He also recalls the Ahmed Patel Rajya Sabha election fight where Shivakumar acted as troubleshooter, drawing comparisons within Congress to the party’s own “Amit Shah”.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that DK Shivakumar is merely a money-and-muscle fixer who bought his way to the top misses the patience and organisation Kidwai’s book emphasises. Yet the Congress high command’s shifting signals, first backing Siddaramaiah, then switching, suggest the party was managing factions, not following a principled plan. If a formal rotational formula existed, why was it never publicly acknowledged? The test will come at the next assembly election: will the same leadership back Shivakumar for a full term, or will the old rivalry resurface?
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
