Bengaluru: With a relatively short two-year tenure ahead, Chief Minister-elect DK Shivakumar is strategizing to establish himself as a pan-Karnataka mass leader within the first month after taking oath. As part of this plan, the Congress party is preparing a ‘Janashirvada’ programme, a statewide yatra commencing on June 10, which will unfold across three phases.
Yatra Details and Strategy
Breaking from the tradition of visiting his own constituency first, the CM-elect is scheduled to begin his tour in the Vokkaliga heartland of Mandya. He will then travel to other parts of the state, covering two districts in each of the four zones, to connect with the people. This cycle will be repeated thrice, eventually covering almost every district in Karnataka, according to GC Chandrashekar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president.
Although there was speculation that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might join him to display unity, sources within the organizing team indicated that Shivakumar will proceed 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 Chief Minister,” party sources clarified.
Low-Key Transition Plan
The decision to decentralize the commemoration of the new Chief Minister is part of Congress’ strategy to keep the transition low-key. Two reasons have emerged for holding the swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan: first, the June 4, 2025, RCB stampede fiasco, and second, 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,” an organizer explained.
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 cabinet composition have dominated the spotlight, with party functionaries, former ministers, and aspirants flocking to the new center of authority—Shivakumar’s Sadashivanagar residence.
Visitors and Aspirants
Among the visitors were former ministers MB Patil, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Mankala Vaidya, and Madhu Bangarappa; MLAs Raghavendra Hitnal, BR Patil, Roopakala Shashidhar, Tanveer Sait, Kashappanavar Vijayananda Shivashankarappa, Annapurna Tukaram and her husband; E Tukaram (MP), and Bilkis Bano (MLC). Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty was also among the select few who met Shivakumar.
