The likely elevation of D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka is expected to pose a significant challenge to the Janata Dal (Secular) in the upcoming state polls, political analysts have said. Shivakumar, a prominent Vokkaliga leader from the Congress party, has been consolidating support among the community, which has traditionally been a stronghold of the JD(S) led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.
Congress Gains in Old Mysore Region
A political analyst pointed to the Congress party's impressive performance in the Old Mysore region during the 2023 assembly elections as evidence of growing support for Shivakumar among Vokkaligas. The region, which includes districts like Ramanagara, Mandya, and Hassan, has long been a bastion of the JD(S). However, the Congress managed to win several seats there, cutting into the JD(S) vote bank.
Shivakumar's Strategic Influence
Shivakumar, who currently serves as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, has been instrumental in strengthening the party's grassroots network in the Vokkaliga belt. His potential elevation to the deputy chief minister post is seen as a move to further solidify Congress's grip on the community. Analysts believe this could erode the JD(S)'s traditional support base, making it harder for the party to retain its influence in the region.
The JD(S), which has been struggling to maintain its relevance in Karnataka politics, faces an existential threat if it loses its core Vokkaliga vote. The party's leadership, including Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy, will need to devise new strategies to counter Shivakumar's growing popularity.
With the next Karnataka assembly elections due in 2028, the political landscape is already shifting. The Congress party's focus on caste dynamics and regional strongholds could reshape the state's political equations, leaving the JD(S) in a precarious position.
