Karnataka Energy Minister Shivakumar: The go-to man for Congress

Considered close to high command

Karnataka Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his residence in Bengaluru on August 2, 2017.

Karnataka’s Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar is arguably one of the richest politicians in the State with declared assets of over ₹200 crore, as per his election affidavit filed in 2013.

Hailing from a modest agrarian family with no major political background, his rise in politics is the result of strong grass root political management coupled with financial muscle.

Vokkaliga caste

The six-time MLA, who belongs to the powerful Vokkaliga caste and won his first election in 1989, rose to political prominence during the S.M. Krishna government (1999-2004).

Though he became a minister for the first time in S. Bangarappa’s Cabinet between 1991-92, it was in Mr. Krishna’s Cabinet that he was regarded the most powerful Minister with the Urban Development and Cooperation portfolios.

Known for his proximity to the old guard within the party, he is not considered as one of Chief Minister Siddaramiah’s loyalists.

However, his proximity to the central leadership and ability for grass root political management have made him the go-to man for situations, like safeguarding MLAs from Gujarat at a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Managing campaigns

In the past, he has been entrusted with managing campaigns for key candidates and is currently the chairman of the party’s campaign committee for the 2018 Assembly polls.

His brother, D.K. Suresh, two-time MP, represents the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, and together, the brothers wield considerable clout in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and Ramangaram districts where they successfully decimated the JD (S).

Mr. Shivakumar owns or is involved in companies or trusts that have interests in education, real estate, mining, power, transport and his links with powerful industry barons had made him a force to reckon with in the Congress.

His position in the party has remained undiluted despite allegations of corruption from his political opponents. In fact, he was initially not included in Mr. Siddaramiah’s Cabinet, but was later given the key portfolio, many believe because of his proximity to the party high command.

Formidable record

Electorally, he has had a formidable record and in 2013 won the Kanakapura constituency by polling 1,00,007 votes against JD(S) veteran leader PGR Sindhia. So far, he has lost an election only once, in 2002, in the Lok Sabha by-elections to former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in Kanakapura.