Meet DK Shivakumar, the 'man of the match' in Karnataka Political League: 10 facts

Amid high-octane drama in Karnataka and the subsequent anti-climax at Vidhana Soudha, one thing that stood out was DK Shivakumar’s sheer control over things.

The senior Congress leader and former minister in Siddaramaiah government who had predicted BS Yeddyurappa’s resignation before the crucial floor test is being seen as the man responsible for keeping ‘the flock together’ and outwitting the BJP’s strategy. 

Here are top 10 facts about this ‘man of the match’:

1: Simply called ‘DK’ in political circles, Shivakumar is known for his strong belief in numerology and his favourite number 6, a Times of India report said. During the assembly election affidavit, he had reported Rs 589 crore rise in the assets from 2013. 

2: Doddallahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar began his political journey in 1985 and in three decades, he has become the go-to person, the master strategist in the Congress. 

3: The year 1999 can be seen as the breakthrough time for Shivakumar. He was one of the youngest ministers in Karnataka cabinet.

4: This is not the first time he has played the role of a troubleshooter for the Congress. Before Karnataka, Shivakumar saved the day for Congress in Maharashtra and Gujarat. ‘I have handled these responsibilities in the past. I did it when Vilasrao Deshmukh was in Maharashtra and there was a crisis. I have taken care of Gujarat MLAs, and I have taken a lot of risk…. My leaders are there, God is there, and justice is there,’ Shivakumar was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

5: It was in 2017, in the month of August, when Shivakumar took over the role of ‘protector’ of 43 Congress lawmakers during the Rajya Sabha elections in which BJP chief Amit Shah had pitted against senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel. 

6: The level of Shivakumar’s commitment can be gauged from the fact that for past four days, he hadn’t gone home. That means, for nearly 100 hours, Shivakumar made sure that the all Congress MLAs were safe and present in the Vidhana Soudha just before the floor test. 

7: According to an Indian Express report, Shivakumar was carrying a suitcase full of clothes. When Siddaramaiah joked about his clothes, DK said that he hadn’t got time to go home. 

8: Though known for harbouring dream of becoming Chief Minister, the 53-year-old Shivakumar has been rather reluctant. When asked about him becoming the deputy Chief Minister, he told DNA, ‘My leaders will do justice.’

9: Coming from the powerful Vokkaliga community, Shivakumar set aside his differences with HD Deve Gowda and son HD Kumaraswamy to save the post-poll alliance 

10: From his muscle power days to being the ultimate spin doctor, Shivakumar can be the kind of strategist Congress needs at national level.