BENGALURU: In the strongest indication yet that he intends to remain Karnataka Congress president, perhaps even overseeing the party’s campaign in the next assembly elections, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, at a public event in Bengaluru, said he has already asked legislators to prepare for the 2028 elections.
This is the second indication in as many weeks that he intends to remain party chief, despite strident calls from senior legislators to the party high command to have him replaced.
At a public event last week, he told the gathering that he has “a good 8 to 10 years of fitness” left in him and he will continue to be active in leading Congress at the next elections.
Following a meeting Monday with Congress candidates who lost in the 2023 polls, he said: “I already gave our defeated candidates a pep talk to prepare for the 2028 assembly polls.
As per my calculations, we will win at least 60 of the 86 seats we lost, besides retaining the existing seats. I will speak to the high command on the remaining 26 seats and on how to strengthen the party.”
However, when asked whether he intends to continue as president of the state unit, Shivakumar said: “It does not matter whether I am X, Y, or Z. The party has given me enough and more strength to lead Congress in the next elections.”
He also suggested a meeting of defeated candidates of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections which would be jointly chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah and him. The meeting has been tentatively scheduled during the legislature session which will commence on March 3.
Party workers’ meetings
Earlier, Shivakumar said all ministers, including Siddara- maiah, were mandated to hold party workers’ meetings in their assembly constituencies between March 23 and April 1. This, he said, would be part of preparations for upcoming rural and urban local body elections.
“While MLAs and MLCs have the opportunity to participate in legislature party meetings, I suggested that the chief minister hold an exclusive meeting for those who were defeated,” Shivakumar said. “We also decided that ministers in charge of districts will conduct party workers’ meetings at the constituency-level.
They should hold these meetings in their districts on weekends. I will hold such meetings in all 28 assem- bly seats of Bengaluru city,” Shivakumar said.
He said cadres nominated to local administrative committees, such as the land grant committee, will be felicitated at the party workers’ meeting. Vacancies on these committees will be filled before the meeting.
He also took a dig at detractors, reminding party legislators and seniors of instructions from AICC president and Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi that no political meetings should be held at residences of MLAs. He said they should instead dedicate themselves to party organisation throughout the year.
Land for office buildings
He said more than 100 party offices at the local level are ready. The objective, he said, is to have an office building in each assembly constituency.
Foundation stones would be laid virtually for them in April. “If there is a delay in procuring land for party offices, then I urge functionaries to purchase land and donate it to the party.
I have done this in Ramanagara and shall donate it to the party in the next couple of days,” he said.