July 3 marks one month since D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister of Karnataka. His government, with a relatively small Council of Ministers, assumed office at a time when the state was grappling with a rain deficit. With a fresh administrative approach, D.K. Shivakumar began with the

July 3 marks one month since D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister of Karnataka. His government, with a relatively small Council of Ministers, assumed office at a time when the state was grappling with a rain deficit. With a fresh administrative approach, D.K. Shivakumar began with the

July 3 marks one month since D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister of Karnataka. His government, with a relatively small Council of Ministers, assumed office at a time when the state was grappling with a rain deficit. With a fresh administrative approach, D.K. Shivakumar began with the

July 3 marks one month since D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister of Karnataka. His government, with a relatively small Council of Ministers, assumed office at a time when the state was grappling with a rain deficit.

With a fresh administrative approach, D.K. Shivakumar began with the transfer of bureaucrats and police officers. The government was formed with 13 ministers taking the oath along with the Chief Minister. The allocation of portfolios was completed within a week. However, there were early signs of dissatisfaction, with Ramalinga Reddy and Krishna Byre Gowda openly expressing discontent over their portfolios and the limited powers assigned to them. Shivakumar, however, publicly downplayed the differences and managed to convince the ministers to fall in line.

On the development front, the government went ahead with the land acquisition plan for the proposed township near Bidadi. The project has, however, become the first major political test for him, with sections of farmers opposing the proposed land acquisition. Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, who enjoys considerable political influence in the region, has demanded direct consultations with the affected villagers. At a protest meeting in Bidadi on June 25, he even kept an empty chair symbolically reserved for the Chief Minister, urging him to attend and interact with the protesters.

DKS also inaugurated a 2.2-kilometre short-tunnel project connecting Hebbal to Mekhri Circle and the 10.7-kilometre S. M. Krishna Corridor, a ten-lane arterial road connecting Magadi Road to Mysore Road.

On the organisational front, Shivakumar handed over the reins of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee to B. K. Hariprasad. On the governance front, he has also announced the Bharata Jodo Youth Clubs at the panchayat level, to ensure village committees can cultivate leadership, social harmony, sports and cultural activities.

The Election Commission has also launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, a move that Congress leaders have criticised over transparency concerns. During the Nasha Mukta Bharat programme, attended by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Shivakumar said his government would ban gutkha and pan masala if prohibited substances were detected in their products.

Some of the government’s social welfare schemes have also come under scrutiny following reports of misuse, prompting the administration to review their implementation and tighten monitoring mechanisms.

At the same time, Shivakumar’s renewed push for the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir project has triggered fresh political controversy. The Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution opposing the project, reflecting widespread resistance across the neighbouring state, including from the Congress there. The BJP and JD(S) in Karnataka have used the issue to question Shivakumar’s ability to convince his political allies in Tamil Nadu while simultaneously pursuing the project.

As the second round of Cabinet expansion is due in the next two weeks, senior party leaders who did not get a berth in the first round are hopeful of being included. Young legislators who missed out are also optimistic, as D. K. Shivakumar appears likely to give them preference in the next expansion.

TAGS