Battles D.K. Shivakumar yet to win: The road so far was hard, but a harder path awaits DKS

As D. K. Shivakumar prepares to take over as the chief minister of Karnataka, several challenges await him — handling opposition parties, managing state finances while continuing the Congress guarantee schemes, and maintaining a balance between urban and rural development.

But among all these challenges, two battles stand out. One involves the legal proceedings pursued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against him. The other is gaining the confidence of AHINDA voters and maintaining the support of Siddaramaiah’s loyalists within the Congress party.

For Shivakumar, the shadow of the Enforcement Directorate is neither new nor politically insignificant. His rise in Karnataka politics has run parallel to a prolonged legal battle involving allegations of money laundering, tax irregularities and disproportionate assets. The most dramatic development came in 2019, when the ED arrested him after multiple rounds of questioning in a case that originated from Income Tax searches conducted in 2017. He spent close to 50 days in Tihar Jail before securing bail from the Delhi High Court.

The original case revolved around allegations that unaccounted cash was routed through hawala channels and linked to tax evasion complaints filed by the Income Tax Department. The ED subsequently invoked provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

In March 2024, the Supreme Court quashed proceedings in the 2018 ED money laundering case against him, holding that the predicate offences under the Income Tax Act could not independently sustain the PMLA proceedings in the manner argued by the ED.

That judgment significantly altered the political narrative around Shivakumar. For Congress leaders, it became proof that the BJP-led Centre had weaponised central agencies against opposition politicians. Shivakumar’s arrest had already transformed him from a factional strongman into a martyr-like figure — the leader who “took the hit” while protecting the party during the 2019 resort politics phase.

In his 2023 election affidavit, Shivakumar declared assets worth more than ₹1,400 crore, making him one of the wealthiest politicians in Karnataka and among the richest Congress leaders in the country. That enormous personal wealth has remained politically sensitive and continues to feed corruption narratives pushed by opposition parties.

Shivakumar repeatedly maintained that the case was a deliberate attempt by central agencies to politically weaken him. The entire episode also transformed his public image. From a clean-shaven politician known for his sharp appearance, Shivakumar returned from jail sporting a grey stubble beard — a look that gradually became part of his political persona in recent years.

Nagesh Kalenahalli, senior journalist and political observer, says, “D.K. Shivakumar has transformed from an impulsive party leader into a more mature politician after the legal battle surrounding the tax case and the responsibilities entrusted to him by the Congress high command.”

But the legal  hurdle has not disappeared entirely. A separate disproportionate assets investigation involving the CBI continues to linger despite the Karnataka government earlier attempting to withdraw sanction for the probe. There have also been periodic court interventions and challenges surrounding the legality of the investigation itself.

If fresh ED or CBI action emerges after he becomes chief minister, the BJP will almost certainly attempt to revive the corruption narrative nationally. A chief minister facing active central agency scrutiny would give the opposition ammunition to attack him, especially as elections near. Congress leaders understand that while Shivakumar’s political utility is immense, his legal baggage remains a vulnerability that could periodically erupt into a political crisis.

Yet, the bigger political challenge before Shivakumar may not come from courtrooms, but from within his own party.

Siddaramaiah’s AHINDA formula — an umbrella coalition of minorities, backward classes and Dalits — remains the Congress party’s strongest social base in Karnataka. While Shivakumar enjoys deep support among Vokkaligas and possesses unmatched control over the party machinery after becoming KPCC president, sections within the AHINDA bloc continue to identify more closely with Siddaramaiah’s welfare politics and leadership style.

This sentiment was visible outside Siddaramaiah’s official residence after he submitted his resignation. Many supporters from the Kuruba community gathered, carrying posters of Siddaramaiah and shouting slogans against the Congress leadership for not allowing him to continue for a full five-year term.

Shobha, a Siddaramaiah supporter from Mysuru, told THE WEEK, “Congress has lost a mass leader like Siddaramaiah, who is the face of AHINDA.” As slogans continued in the background, she added, “Congress may not get the same number of seats in the next election because of this move.”

Becoming the chief minister was one challenge for Shivakumar. Now the important task will be managing the Siddaramaiah camp within the Congress. Though the transition of power has been publicly projected as smooth and consensual, the Congress in Karnataka continues to remain informally divided between loyalists of both leaders. Siddaramaiah’s influence over legislators, backward class leaders and welfare politics remains enormous even after stepping down.

Any perception that Shivakumar is sidelining Siddaramaiah loyalists or diluting the AHINDA ideology could create friction within the government and party structure. Congress leaders understand that maintaining internal balance will be critical for the government’s stability.

Congress leaders increasingly argue that the BJP has used investigative agencies against powerful opposition chief ministers and regional leaders — especially ahead of major elections.

For Shivakumar, the road to the chief minister’s office was long and hard, but creating a corruption-free and AHINDA-friendly image holds the key to the stable government he is going to form soon.