How DK trounced PK to become the Congress' star

Prashant Kishor is working with southern states for the first time with YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar may have just replaced political strategist Prashant Kishor to emerge as Congress' star. Recent events including IT raids have projected Shivakumar as a loyalist who will go any length for the party. Add to it the ground intelligence he has in Karnataka and the mass appeal around him as a prominent caste leader, Shivakumar may just be the one-stop-shop for the Congress ahead of the assembly elections.

While the party has made no official announcement, it is speculated that poll strategist Prashant Kishor could be roped in to be the Congress' brain. Thanks to recent developments, D K Shivakumar has now emerged as the heroic face of Congress in the state. If he won the Congress senior leadership's hearts by hosting the Gujarat MLAs, he registered his position as a strong leader in the face of adversities during the three-day raids on his properties.

Congress leaders in Karnataka, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, aren't very keen on Prashant Kishor or the effectiveness of his strategy in the South. At a time when the Congress is yet to finalise on Kishor's advent into Karnataka, Shivakumar has emerged as its new star. For starters, he is not an outsider. While Kishor's strategy worked wonders for the Congress in Punjab, its abysmal performance in Uttar Pradesh was also attributed to him. With D K Shivakumar, there is no risk that the party runs. Add to it the money and the muscle power that Shivakumar brings to the table. Despite being raided by the Income Tax department, Shivakumar has remained unfazed. Party cadres look at his strength as a defiance to 'BJP's arm-twisting tactics'.

Does Karnataka need Prashant Kishor now?

Despite losing the KPCC chief's post to G Parameshwara, the energy minister of Karnataka has emerged a hero for the party trouncing political strategist Prashant Kishor. Just like how Kishor became an overnight sensation following his successful campaign for Narendra Modi in 2014, D K Shivakumar, a prominent leader in Karnataka was catapulted to national fame overnight following raids that coincided with him hosting MLAs from Gujarat.

The Congress has been depending on Prashant Kishor to build the party's image and brand it ahead of elections in key states. In Karnataka, Shivakumar can do the same single-handedly thanks to his newly acquired 'loyal Congressman being targeted by the BJP' status.

In taking care of the MLAs from Gujarat and facing IT heat, D K Shivakumar's political stature may have just risen. The clamour to make D K Shivakumar the KPCC president was loud before the Congress' Karnataka In-charge general secretary Venugopal announced Parameshwara's extension in the post. Now, the voices of support for D K Shivakumar are growing once again making him the party's sole requirement to gather strength and votes for the election.

OneIndia News