Left Mandya after Siddaramaiah, Dinesh took over: DKS

Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar, the Congress’ Man Friday, maintains calm confidence on the Congress-JD(S) coalition even as grassroots dissidence prevails. DH’s Bharath Joshi caught up with Shivakumar for a pre-poll lowdown. Excerpts:

How is the alliance positioned given the dissidence on the ground?

Definitely, in the Old Mysore region, we’ve been fighting the JD(S) for 30-40 years. This is the first election that we’ve come together. It took some time. We’ve settled 90% and the hiccups are 10%. As far as the JD(S) is concerned, they’ve consolidated 99%. By poll day, everything will be settled.

You are regarded as the party’s troubleshooter, but trouble still remains.

I delivered whatever responsibility was mine. I was not given the responsibility of Mandya. Siddaramaiah and Dinesh Gundu Rao are dealing with it. Initially, I tried to initiate talks. But when they took over, I just left it.

What is the reason for the dissidence?

Look, in my own constituency, in my own village, I get 500-600 votes against me when I go to polls. There will be local, individual issues that will be fought. Lots of issues are there that can’t be solved. This is part of politics.

Many, including your brother D K Suresh, feel the alliance with JD(S) is not good for the party.

This is just the beginning. Let’s see... I fully feel the Congress will benefit in this system. Out of 224 constituencies, the JD(S) has a big presence in 50 seats, although they may have won only 37. The BJP and the Congress fight each other in 175 seats, where the entire party cadre is happy that we’ve kept BJP out of power. To gain something, we have to lose something.

Your friendship with H D Kumaraswamy has raised eyebrows.

We’ve to respect each other. I’m working with him in the government. It’s my duty, but at no point in time will I be a backstabber. I’ve worked with
S Bangarappa and S M Krishna. I’ve also worked with Siddaramaiah, who never admitted me in this government for six months. Still, I never
had any ill-feelings against him. I wanted him to be CM again.

There’s talk of an understanding you have with Kumaraswamy, which involves you becoming the chief minister.

It’s not true. We’ve not discussed anything like that. I don’t know what my party has discussed, but officially, we’ve said he will be CM for five years.