D.K. Shivakumar likely to become State Congress President

Bengaluru: Former Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar is reportedly disappointed that he was denied a key post in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. Especially after he took tremendous risks to keep the Congress flock together after the Assembly elections, he is discontented by the treatment meted out to him by the party. Therefore, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had a meeting with party leaders soon after the oath taking ceremony of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

Rahul Gandhi apparently asked former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and AICC General Secretary in Karnataka K.C. Venugopal to visit Delhi after the floor test of the coalition government. They would discuss the Cabinet expansion and choosing the next KPCC President. Sources say that Shivakumar can be expected to be given this post and also a Cabinet berth in the government.

Shivakumar was reportedly disappointed because it was he and his brother D.K. Suresh, who were instrumental in moving the newly-elected MLAs to the resort in Bidai in Bengaluru, then to Hyderabad and back to Bengaluru. They had also played a major role in preventing poaching of party members by the BJP. So for his efforts, Shivakumar was hoping that he would be rewarded with a suitable post. But, the decision to appoint G. Parameshwara as the Deputy Chief Minister angered him.

In contrast, Shivakumar told reporters that he was not hungry for power and would work as a loyal party worker. He was confident that the party high command would take a suitable decision about his role in the party and in the government.