New Delhi, Mar 11 :
The Congress on Wednesday announced that former Karnataka government minister D.K. Shivakumar would be the new president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
Shivakumar became, arguably, the face of the Congress in Karnataka in 2019 when he strove to preserve the Congress-JD(S) coalition government from collapse after 17 MLAs resigned in July. Shivakumar was detained by the Mumbai Police that year when he attempted to meet these MLAs in a bid to get them to take back their resignations. The proactive approach gave Shivakumar the image of a troubleshooter.
Shivakumar spent over 50 days in Tihar Jail in September-October of 2019 after he was arrested in connection with a money-laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate.
Shivakumar had also claimed to be in touch with the Madhya Pradesh MLAs who quit from the Assembly following the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia. Shivakumar was confident they would return to the Congress. Shivakumar told ANI on Wednesday, “No one can destroy Congress. Leaders may come, leaders may go, that doesn’t make any difference. All the MLAs (Madhya Pradesh) who are here don’t want to lose their membership. I am sure they will understand, go back and save the government.” The last full-time Congress state chief, Dinesh Gundu Rao, stepped down in December after the Congress was wiped out in the bypolls for 15 Assembly seats.
In addition to Shivakumar, the Congress has appointed three working presidents: Eashwar Khandre, Satish Jarkiholi and Saleem Ahamed.
M. Narayanaswamy has been appointed the chief whip of he Karnataka Legislative Council and Ajay Singh was made chief whip in the Assembly. Siddaramaiah remains the legislature party leader and leader of opposition.
