Shivakumar turns to Janashirvada to cement statewide leadership

Bengaluru: Given that he would have a relatively short two-year tenure, CM-elect DK Shivakumar is looking to establish himself as a pan-Karnataka mass leader over the first month after he takes oath.As part of the plan, Congress is preparing a ‘Janashirvada’ programme, a statewide yatra from June 10, which will occur across three phases. Bucking a trend of visiting his own constituency, the CM-elect is scheduled to first visit the Vokkaliga heartland of Mandya.He will then travel to other parts of the state—two districts in each of the four zones—to connect with the people. This will happen thrice in total, covering almost every district in the state, said GC Chandrashekar, KPCC working president.Although there was talk of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and outgoing CM Siddaramaiah joining him in a display of unity, sources who are part of the organising team said Shivakumar will go solo for now.“This is not a rally. It is merely a way to seek blessings from the electorate as he steps in as the CM,” party sources said.Meanwhile, the decision to decentralise the commemoration of a new CM is part of Congress’ plan to keep the transition low-key. Two reasons emerge from the decision to hold the swearing-in at Lok Bhavan: One, the June 4, 2025, RCB stampede fiasco, and two, showing deference to outgoing CM Siddaramaiah and his displeased supporters.“We wanted to avoid busloads of party workers and supporters arriving from each district, which would normally be the case with a larger swearing-in,” said an organiser.Congress is also quietly preparing for legislative council and Rajya Sabha elections for seven and four seats respectively, scheduled for mid-June. However, discussions on who will make it to the cabinet hogged the limelight with party functionaries, former ministers, and aspirants making a beeline to the new centre of authority—Shivakumar’s Sadashivanagar residence.Former ministers MB Patil, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Mankala Vaidya, and Madhu Bangarappa, to MLAs Raghavendra Hitnal, BR Patil, Roopakala Shashidhar, Tanveer Sait, Kashappanavar Vijayananda Shivashankarappa, Annapurna Tukaram and her husband besides E Tukaram, MP, and Bilkis Bano, MLC, visited. Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty was also among the select few visitors who met Shivakumar.