Shivakumar: What DK Shivakumar gained by creating 5-day stand-off: Heir apparent’s position | India

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: The breakfast table stacked with idli-dosa-sambar, and Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar digging into the rice dishes, with host K C Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala stealing glances at their guests, summed up the four-day-long breathless drama to select the chief minister of Karnataka.

Not only were the two Kannadigas, the collective face in the successful Congress campaign in Karnataka brought together, their photographs too were widely circulated to convey a message. The following customary picture of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, flanked by the duo, raising hands, hammered the point further.
If unity was the theme to be projected on the day of big decision, its need was felt because the two have post-election come across as rival warring generals wrangling for a peak.

If, in the end, the easy resolution elicited “what was the fuss about” looks, sources said there was never a belligerent confrontation as was portrayed in the media or expressed by overexcited supporters. The decision on the CM was already made, and the party was only persuading Shivakumar to come around.
The process was closed with sweeteners like he would be made the only deputy CM to keep his salience despite demands from three important communities, and his stature be enhanced by meaty portfolios. He would also stay the state Congress president, a position of heft that gives control over the organisation. There was no word on split term as was speculated, and Venugopal swatted aside the tricky query on the issue at a press conference.
But Congress circles remained abuzz with talk of a “power sharing formula”. In fact, state veteran and party’s Maharashtra incharge H K Patil said, “I welcome the decision on power sharing, and am certain that it will be a smooth five years for the party to provide good administration in Karnataka.”
For Congress, Karnataka matters for multiple reasons, a point repeatedly drilled into the rival claimants. If a victory was needed to return to winning ways and demonstrate that Narendra Modi-powered campaign machine can be humbled, the post-poll focus would be to re-establish the party as an example of good and clean governance. One big objective is to capitalise on the gains for the big contest in 2024.
Evidently, the acrimony has raised concern about whether the state unit will be a united house going forward. Insiders expressed confidence that it would be smooth, because both the leaders have a stake in a good show – Siddaramaiah’s legacy and Shivakumar’s future.
And over five days, the dynamic Shivakumar has established himself as the man-in-waiting. He would want to keep it simple.