There are ‘many Eknath Shindes’ in Congress, and DKS may be one of them, says Ashok

Speculation grows as Congress leaders express concern over D.K. Shivakumar's closeness to BJP, hinting at potential party shifts.

Close on the heels of some Congress leaders reportedly expressing suspicion that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is getting too close to the BJP, while taking exception to him sharing the dais with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP State leaders on Thursday added to the speculation.

While Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok remarked that Mr. Shivakumar may be one of the “Eknath Shindes” of Karnataka, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra said these are indications that his prediction — that there would be “important developments” in the Congress soon — would come true.

Replying to queries on the speculation that Mr. Shivakumar is getting close to the BJP, at a press conference in Bengaluru, Mr. Ashok said it was reflective of groupism in the the Congress haunting even the party’s national organisation.

“During the recent legislature session in Belagavi, Mr. Shivakumar openly indicated that he would ‘kick the door’ and get the post due to him. But none of the Congress leaders, including the party high command, bothered about it,” he said. To repeated queries in this regard, Mr. Ashok said, “I had earlier set November 16 [2024] as the mahurta (auspicious occasion) for a leadership change in the Congress. These developments are a fallout of that.”

When asked if Mr. Shivakumar would turn out to be “Karnataka’s Eknath Shinde”, Mr. Ashok remarked, “There are several Eknath Shindes in Karnataka’s Congress unit. Mr. Shivakumar may also be one of them.”

Mr. Ashok claimed the Deputy Chief Minister had tried to project Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as a “weak Chief Minister” by claiming that only he was being invited for the election campaign in other States because of his charisma while others in the Congress were not being invited. “Mr. Shivakumar is trying to say that he is the mass leader now and that Mr. Siddaramaiah is no longer a mass leader,” he claimed.

When asked if the BJP would admit Mr. Shivakumar if he knocks on its doors, Mr. Ashok only said, “Let the Congress first decide whether it will oust him from its organisation.”