IT Raid Expected, but Did It Come Too Early for DK Shivakumar?

Although Congress was expecting the raids, it came little too early for DKS

IT raids against senior leaders ahead of the upcoming elections was something the Congress party was expecting. Especially since the IT department began a probe into the diary of a Congress MLC Govinda Raju, which contained details of money paid by Karnataka Congress leaders to the congress high command.

According to party insiders, BJP, which is using IT raids as a political tool, was expected to conduct raids closer to the assembly election. However, the raid against Congress minister DK Shivakumar came early, thanks to the 44 Gujarat MLAs holed up in a resort in the outskirts of the city.

The political motives – whether the raid was an attempt to gain access to Gujarat MLAs or to rattle Karnataka government – remains unclear. But if the intention was the latter, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrests Shivakumar, Karnataka Congress will lose its go-to man ahead of a crucial election.

The By-election Hero

While the credit for the 2013 assembly election victory goes to Siddramaiah, the success in the by-elections that followed is credited to Shivakumar.

One of the first tasks that came his way was the 2013 bypolls, in Bengaluru rural and Mandya. Congress won in both seats, which were considered a stronghold of JD(S)

In 2014, he was made the campaign manager for the Ballari rural by-elections, and once again, he managed victory. B Sriramalu, a close associate of Ballari mining baron Janardhan Reddy, was defeated by the congress candidate.

By ensuring victory for the third time, in the 2017 by-elections in Gundlupet and Nanjangud, he became the lead strategist for the Congress party.

Main Strategist for Upcoming Elections

The man, who had dropped out of one of the most prestigious schools in Bengaluru for failing to meet the academic standards, has over the years emerged as the go-to man during crisis for congress party.

As Shivakumar did not have a clean image as a politician, Siddaramaiah was not keen on giving him a cabinet posting. Allegations of land grabbing, illegal land denotification, DK using his proxies in get government tenders, illegal mining and others have been levelled against DK Shivakumar.

However, Shivakumar’s proximity to the central high command ensured he was given better slots in the government. The victories he provided for the party over the last few years, soon made him a confidante of Siddaramiah. This was one of the reasons why Shivakumar was first pick to lodge Gujarat MLAs in Karnataka ahead of Rajya Sabha elections.

Moneybag for Party and People

DK Shivakumar, who declared assets of Rs 251 crores, has been one of the biggest money bags for Congress party. Apart from the donations to the party, Shivakumar is also known for splurging on his workers, which gained him a loyal followership.

In March, DK Shivakumar was summoned by the IT department after a diary, said to be of an MLC, contained his name, for making large donations to the Congress high command. Shivakumar, however, deposed before the IT department stating ‘DKS’ mentioned in the diary, was not him.

All eyes of the Enforcement Directorate

The IT raid continues for the second day, and the crucial question remains if the case will be handed over to the Enforcement Directorate. In case ED takes over the case and arrests him, it will be a big blow to the Congress. Instead, if he comes out clean, he would gain sympathy votes for the party, being a leader from a prominent Vokkaliga community.

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