Karnataka poll strategy? Here is why DK Shivakumar is joining hands with HD Kumaraswamy
- Congress Minister DK Shivakumar is seen getting closer to the Gowda family, which leads the JD(S) party
- However, rumours of Shivakumar joining JD(S) have been rubbished
- Here are three factors which might have led DK Shivakumar to HD Kumaraswamy
FollowPost Income Tax raids on Energy Minister DK Shivakumar's house and the office, he has emerged as a strongman of the party. He was quite well known in Karnataka, but DK Shivakumar is a known name in the national sector too, thanks to the raids. However, the Congress leader is seen getting closer to the Gowda family, which leads the JD(S) party in the state. What is the Energy minister up to?
The rumours of Shivakumar joining JD(S) have been rubbished. In fact, it was also told that the BJP was trying to pull Shivakumar into their party, but the Minister has dismissed this as well. But here are three major reasons why DK Shivakumar might be striking a deal with HD Kumaraswamy and HD Deve Gowda.
1) Business interest
 The day Income Tax officers raided DK Shivakumar's residence and office, HD Kumaraswamy came out in the open and supported the minister.
"If assets like money, jewellery or property papers were seized, it would have been okay to seek the energy minister's resignation. With no documentary evidence, senior BJP leaders like H N Ananth Kumar is demanding Shivakumar's ouster, which is childish. An I-T raid is not conducted overnight, and it requires at least three to four months of preparation. The accusation that it was because the MLAs was in town is immature," he had told reporters during the raid.
It is speculated that there must be some business deal that drove him to support, perhaps to keep himself insulated too.
2) The visit and the meet
Considered as rivals, CM Siddaramaiah, along with DK Shivakumar and Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya visited HD Kumaraswamy in the hospital. Former CM, Kumaraswamy, was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on Bannerghatta Road for valve replacement surgery. The leaders spoke to Kumaraswamy and his wife, Anitha. It looked like the rivals were on the way to becoming friends again. Since then, DK Shivakumar has maintained a cordial relationship with the rival party President Kumaraswamy.
The togetherness of former PM, JD(S) Supremo HD Deve Gowda, and DK Shivakumar is also perceives as a move to keep the Vokkaliga vote consolidated. Both not only shared the stage during a non-political event (Silver jubilee celebrations of Krishik Samaj), but also treated each other with respect than mudslinging, which is more often the case.
3) Common factor -Â CP Yogeshwar?
That apart, it looks like JD(S) and Congress are closing the distance between them to defeat CP Yogeshwar, who after joining BJP has become the common enemy of both the parties. The winning horse, CP Yogeshwar, has lost just once during the election in 1999, which was against HD Kumaraswamy. Now, the Congress is disappointed as Yogeshwar recently switched loyalties from the Congress to the BJP.
Thus, defeating Yogeshwar is not only a strategy, but also a matter of prestige for JD(S) and Congress. Thus it looks like both the parties will agree upon a candidate and fight together to defeat Yogeshwar. Is DK Shivakumar trying to convince JD(S) to field DK Suresh? Well, all eyes are on the polls drawing near.
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