DK Shivakumar Archives - Lokmarg

One Nation One Election A Plot To Finish Regional Parties: DK Shivakumar

By LokMarg 13th December 2024

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that the One Nation One Election (ONOE) is a conspiracy hatched by the BJP to finish off small regional parties which add strength to the India bloc.

“The strength of the India bloc has increased due to many regional parties such as TMC, DMK, SP, Communist parties. Hence, the BJP is trying to finish them off through the One Nation One Election,” he said while speaking to media.

Shivakumar remark came after the Union Cabinet approved ‘One Nation One Election’ bill on Thursday paving the way for its introduction in Parliament.

When asked about the bill Shivakumar said NDA lacks the 2/3rd majority in the Parliament and Congress has already opposed the bill.

“The Congress party has already expressed its opposition to it. The NDA doesn’t have strength to get the bill passed in the Parliament as it requires 2/3rd majority. I don’t know how they are going to do it. There are elections in many states in the next few months, some states are up for election in the next 2-3 years, not sure how they are going to handle it. They are doing it with a clear agenda. Rahul Gandhi has already articulated his stand on this and we stand by that,” Shivakumar said.

Earlier in the day, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini lauded PM Narendra Modi for his vision of ‘One Nation, One Election’ and said that it pace up the development of the nation and reduced the expenses happens in conducting elections.

“I appreciate the mindset of PM Narendra Modi. He has the vision of a developed nation…’One Nation, One Election’ will benefit the nation. It will reduce the expenses and the nation will move towards development…The government used to stay busy in the elections which restricted the development process. As now all the elections will be conducted at one time, all the remaining time will be used for development…,” said Nayab Singh Saini.

However, several parties of the INDIA bloc opposed the bill while the BJP-led NDA alliance parties welcomed this bill, saying, it would save time and lay the groundwork for unified elections across the country.

Notably, in September this year, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which aims to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls, within a span of 100 days.

The recommendations were outlined in a report by a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind.

Following the Cabinet’s approval, PM Modi praised the decision, calling it a significant step towards enhancing India’s democracy. (ANI)

Will Implement Our Guarantee: K’taka Deputy CM Shivakumar

By LokMarg 19th May 2023

Ahead of his visit to the national capital, Karnataka Deputy CM-designate DK Shivakumar on Friday assured that Congress will fulfil “guarantees” made to the public in the party’s manifesto.

“We are going to implement our guarantee,” Karnataka Deputy CM-designate DK Shivakumar told ANI as he left his residence for Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru where the swearing-in ceremony will take place on May 20.
Congress on Thursday officially announced the name of the chief ministerial and deputy chief ministerial face, thus ending days of suspense. Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were chosen to be chief ministers and deputy chief ministers respectively.

Both leaders are scheduled to visit the national capital today to discuss the names of MLAs to be inducted into the government. They had returned to Bengaluru yesterday to attend the Congress Legislative Party meeting, and staking claim to form government before the Governor.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held on May 20.

Parameshwara, a Dalit leader, was reportedly upset over the denial of deputy chief minister posts.

Speaking to ANI over the Dalit community’s demand for a Deputy CM post for G Parameshwara, Patil said, “Whoever voted – the Lingayats, the Dalits, the Vokkaligas, the STs, Muslims – all these people have to be given their due share. I am confident our party will do the same. They will give due respect to all these communities and the power will be shared with all communities.”

On being asked about the Lingayat community’s demand for a Deputy CM post for him, Patil said that he is confident that Congress will give due share to the community.

“…Lingayats contesting on BJP tickets have been rejected. So, naturally, when we have come towards Congress, the expectations are high. They want a due share. I am confident that our party will take care of it,” he said.

“…Why not? I would have been much happier if I got 50 seats,” said Patil when asked about the “tussle” arising out of Lingayat and Dalit communities’ demand for Deputy CM posts for G Parameshwara and him amid the thumping victory of the party in Karnataka elections.

On Friday, Karnataka Congress MLA G Parameshwara, who was reportedly upset over the denial of the deputy chief ministerial post, on Friday said that “sacrifice” has to be made at “some point”.

“That is okay. We all have to sacrifice at some point in time. It is a good thing happening,” G Parameshwara said when asked about him not being given the CM or Deputy CM post.

The Congress manifesto lists five main guarantees. “Gruha Jyoti: 200 units of free power to all households, Gruha Lakshmi: Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family, Anna Bhagya: 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household; Yuva Nidhi scheme: diploma holders will get an allowance of Rs1,500 per month for two years, while graduates will receive Rs 3,000 per month and Shakti: Free bus rides for all women in the state”. (ANI)

K’taka CM: Shivakumar To Meet Kharge, Rahul Again Today

By LokMarg 17th May 2023

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar and both met with party leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Wednesday even as the party refrained from making any official announcement yet on who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka.

Earlier today Shivakumar met with Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge’s house after a long meeting. The KPCC chief did not answer media questions.
Shivakumar was seen arriving at the residence of his brother and party MP DK Suresh in the national capital today. He is set to meet with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi later this evening.

The official media handle of Congress shared pictures of Rahul Gandhi with both the leaders

Calling Gandhi a “jannayak” – leader of the people – the Congress tweeted, “Rahul Gandhi ji met DK Shivakumar ji and Siddaramaiah ji after the landslide victory in Karnataka.”

Earlier Congress’ Karnataka-in-charge Randeep Surjewala said that a decision on the next Karnataka chief minister will be announced today or tomorrow and a new cabinet will be in place within 72 hours.

Surjewala also dismissed speculative reports that Siddaramaiah was likely to be named the chief minister once again.

“Delibrations are currently underway by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Whenever Congress makes a decision we will inform you. In the next 48-72 hours, we will have a new cabinet in Karnataka,” he told reporters.

The Congress leader said that consultations are still on and urged media to not report on speculation or heed to fake information.

Four days since Congress registered an emphatic victory in the Assembly polls by wresting power from the Bharatiya Janata Party, still, the State is yet to get a Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, supporters of Siddaramaiah were seen bursting firecrackers in Bengaluru.

Also, police officials were seen inspecting the Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru where the swearing-in ceremony of the new Karnataka government is likely to be held.

After registering an emphatic win in the Karnataka Assembly elections the Congress legislative party met late evening on Sunday in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party.

The Congress had emerged as the single largest party in Karnataka after winning the May 10 assembly election. It won 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly. (ANI)

Poster War Breaks Out In Congress Over Next Karnataka CM

By LokMarg 14th May 2023

After Congress registered a thumping victory in the Karnataka assembly election, the next question that arises is who would be the next chief minister.

The contest between its two top leaders, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, for the chief ministerial post has intensified with their supporters on Sunday putting up posters in support of their respective leaders.

Supporters of Siddaramaiah, who is a former chief minister of Karnataka, put up a poster outside Siddaramaiah’s residence in Bengaluru, referring to him as “the next CM of Karnataka.”

Posters were also put up on Sunday outside the house of D K Shivakumar’s house in Bangalore wishing him an advanced birthday which is on May 15 with writing in them “Birthday greetings to the new Chief Minister of Karnataka”.

Siddaramaiah informed on Saturday that Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting would be held on Sunday where the Congress Legislative Party is expected to pass a resolution leaving it to the party high command to decide the chief minister for Karnataka.

DK Shivakumar defeated JDS candidate B Nagaraju in the Kanakapura constituency by 1,22,392 votes while Siddaramaiah won the Varuna assembly seat defeating Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) V Somanna.

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled, and boosting its own prospects for the electoral battles ahead. BJP managed to win 66 seats.

Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each. (ANI)

K’taka Cong Chief Promises To Cancel Scrapping Of Muslims Quota If Voted To Power

By LokMarg 7th April 2023

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Friday said that if the grand old party came to power in the assembly elections, it would cancel the scrapping of 4 percent Muslim quota by the ruling government.

In March, the Karnataka government decided to scrap the four per cent quota for minorities and add it to the existing quota of two dominant communities of the poll-bound state.
The 4 per cent reservation given to Muslims under 2B classification of the OBC category will now be divided into two equal parts and added to the existing quota of Vokkaligas and Lingayats for whom two new reservation categories of 2C and 2D were created during the Belagavi Assembly Session last year.

While talking to ANI, Shivakumar said, “Without any complications, we raised our two lists. BJP could not raise its list yet…More lists will come…As soon as our government comes, we will cancel the reservation issue and will protect the minority interest.”

On Thursday, Congress released the second list of 41 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 and also marked a seat for the regional outfit Sarvodaya Karnataka Party. The announcement was made following the meeting of the Congress Central Election Committee.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Parliamentary Board would finalise and release the list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state on April 8.

The Chief Minister added that the selection of the candidates has been done based on winnability.

The Congress had on March 25 announced its first list of 124 candidates, which included names of former CM Siddaramaiah and State Party chief DK Shivakumar.

The Assembly election in Karnataka is scheduled to be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI)

‘Not An Inch’ Will Be Ceded: Bommai On Border Row

By LokMarg 27th December 2022

Amid the ongoing Karnataka-Maharashtra border row, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that not an inch of land will be ceded to Maharashtra.

Bommai said Karnataka is confident of getting justice as the States have been organised on the basis of the States Reorganisation Act 1956.
“Not an inch of Karnataka will be ceded to Maharashtra at any cost. The Karnataka government is fully committed to protecting every bit of land. States have been organised on basis of the States Reorganisation Act 1956. Maharashtra politicians are doing such things as their case pending before Supreme Court is very weak,” CM Bommai told reporters here.

Bommai’s remarks came against the backdrop of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passing the resolution on the state’s dispute with Karnataka over border areas.

Karnataka CM said the resolution of the Maharashtra Assembly did not have any value and they are doing such things since their case pending before the Supreme Court is very weak.

“The resolution of the Karnataka Assembly is very clear and the State is clear in its stand which is constitutionally and legally valid. The people of both States are living cordially. The Maharashtra politicians are known for such tricks as they know well that their case is very weak. The Karnataka government is committed to Kannadigas living in the neighbouring state. We are right constitutionally and legally,” Bommai added.

Maharashtra Chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday tabled a resolution in the state Assembly on the state’s dispute with Karnataka over border areas.

The state assembly unanimously passed the resolution which says that Maharashtra will fight the pending case in the Supreme Court with full strength for the inclusion of each and every inch of 865 villages including Belgavi, Karwar, Nipani, Bidar Bhalki in Maharashtra.

The resolution also condemned the Karnataka administration for its anti-Marathi stand in the border area.

According to the resolution the Maharashtra government will stand behind the Marathi people in border areas and will go for a legal fight in the Supreme Court to ensure that these areas become a part of Maharashtra.

The Central Government should urge the Karnataka Government to implement the decision taken in the meeting with the Union Home Minister and the government should be given the understanding to guarantee the safety of the Marathi people in the border areas, the resolution read.

Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday demanded that the disputed areas be declared as Union Territory.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Thackeray said, “We supported today’s resolution. Whatever happens in favour of Maharashtra, we will support it. But there are some questions. For over two years, people (living in border areas) have been demanding to include them in Maharashtra. What are we doing about that?”

Thackeray stated that the Opposition stands in support of the resolution.

“Today government replied that the disputed area cannot be declared as a Union Territory as said by Supreme Court in 2008. However, the situation is not the same now. The Karnataka government is not following it. They are doing an Assembly session there and renamed Belagavi. So we should go to Supreme Court and ask SC to declare it as UT,” added Thackeray.

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar condemned the Maharashtra Assembly resolution and called it a political gimmick.

“There is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in both States and in the Centre. There was no need to pass the resolution. It is done because of elections. We know how to protect our people. They might speak Marathi but live in Karnataka. We condemn this resolution,” Shivakumar told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka legislature said that the state’s stand over the border issue is a settled one and not an inch of land will be given to the neighbouring state.

Notably, the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka dates back to the implementation of the State Reorganization Act, of 1956. The then Maharashtra government had demanded the readjustment of its border with Karnataka.

Following this, a four-member committee was formed by both states. The Maharashtra government had expressed willingness to transfer 260 predominantly Kannada-speaking villages, but the proposal was turned down by Karnataka. Both governments later approached the Supreme Court to expedite the matter. (ANI)