DK Shivakumar takes charge, promises to bring Congress back to power in Karnataka

BENGALURU: DK Shivakumar formally took charge as the Karnataka Congress chief in front of senior party members on Thursday. The ceremony was livestreamed to hundreds of supporters.
Shivakumar, one of the party’s top troubleshooters who is particularly effective in protecting newly stitched alliances and legislators before crucial floor tests, had waited for the promotion in Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee for a decade.
Political observers say the seven-time MLA’s appointment will help the party win greater approval among Vokkaligas, an influential community that has traditionally leaned towards JD(S).
Called ‘Pratijna Dina’, Shivakumar’s swearing-in ceremony was held at the party’s new office building in Bengaluru with about 50 people in attendance. The number was capped because of restrictions aimed at preventing coronavirus infections.
Party general secretary KC Venugopal, newly elected Rajya Sabha member Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah and former state unit chief Dinesh Gundu Rao were present. Gundu Rao handed over the Congress flag to Shivakumar to formalise the transition. Rahul Gandhi wished him success in a phone call.
Eshwar Khandre, Salim Ahmed and Satish Jarkiholi were appointed KPCC working presidents. The event began with a recital of ‘Vande Mataram’ and later, party seniors and workers paid homage to 20 Indian soldiers martyred in the clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on June 15.
Shivakumar’s appointment was confirmed on March11, but he could not take charge because of the lockdown. The swearing-in ceremony was postponed at least four times. Addressing supporters on Thursday, Shivakumar, vowed to turn Congress in Karnataka into a cadrebased party by emulating the Kerala model.