The name of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar, popularly known as DKShi or DKS, has been making headlines ever since the announcement of Karnataka Assembly elections.
With Congress sweeping the elections, DK Shivakumar aimed for the Chief Minister post.
After a high political drama in Bengaluru and New Delhi, the Congress has chosen Siddaramaiah for the top job, while Shivakumar has to contend with the Deputy Chief Minister’s post.
Also read: Siddaramaiah to be Karnataka CM, DK Shivakumar his deputy
Here are the five lesser-known facts about DK Shivakumar.
SM Krishna - The Mentor
SM Krishna, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, played an instrumental role in DK Shivakumar’s political career. Though Krishna is currently with BJP, Shivakumar still holds Krisha in high regard.
Also read: How Siddaramiah worked his way to the Karnataka CM’s chair for a second time
In fact, DKS’ eldest daughter is married to SM Krishna’s grandson Amartya. Amartya is the son of Cafe Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha.
DKS - Congress’ Man Friday
DK Shivakumar has remained with the Congress since the beginning of his political career in the early 1980s. He played a key role whenever the party was in crisis.
In 1991, he played an important role in getting S Bangarappa elected as the Chief Minister of Karnataka after an unceremonious ouster of Veerendra Patil.
In 2002, DKS came to the rescue of Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh by hosting a group of legislators in the outskirts of Bengaluru ahead of crucial trust vote.
In 2018, DKS was instrumental in stitching together a coalition government in Karnataka by bringing together Congress and Janata Dal (Secular).
Early life
DK Shivakumar was born to Kempegowda and Gowramma in Kanakapura, near Bengaluru. He belongs to the Vokkaliga community. He has a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Karnataka State Open University, Mysore. In 1993, he married to Usha and has two daughters (Aishwarya and Aabharana) and a son (Aakash).
The Champion
DK Shivakumar has never lost since his electoral debut in 1989.
From 1989 to 2004, he won from the Sathanur constituency. Between 2004 and 2023, DKS won from his home turf Kanakapura. During his nearly four decade long political career, he contested against heavyweights such as HD Kumaraswamy.
Able administrator
DKS was made the minister of prisons and home guards in 1989, when he was barely 27 years old.
Later in his career, he held the portfolios such as Department of Urban Development (1994-99), Energy (2013-18), and Irrigation and Medical Education (2018-19).