No Cabinet berth or Dy CM, but D K Shivakumar could be rewarded with KPCC chief post

They made a picture perfect pair when they flashed the victory symbol after B S Yeddyurappa resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The old rivals H D Kumaraswamy and D K Shivakumar stood strong as they ensured that the BJP did not have the numbers to form the government.

In the probable list of ministers, the name of D K Shivakumar does not feature. This was very much on expected lines. While H D Deve Gowda would not have given his stamp of approval, the fact is that Shivakumar himself would not have wanted his name to be in the list.

Even if he were offered the post of deputy chief minister, he would not have accepted it as he would never play second fiddle to Kumaraswamy. Shivakumar has for long been an aspirant to the post of CM. The prodigy of S M Krishna, Shivakumar is the go to man for the Congress. He is the natural watchman when it comes to protecting MLAs. He did it for the MLAs in Maharashtra, Gujarat and now Karnataka.

With no cabinet berth or deputy CM's post, he is likely to ask for the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief. The Congress would have no qualms in giving him the post as they would not want him to be an irritant in the coalition.

The Congress had in early May itself contemplated with the idea of making him the party chief. Earlier this month K C Venugopal and his team had submitted a report to the high command about the next KPCC chief. They seem to have zeroed in on Shivakumar despite there being others in the race back then.

The others in the race were K H Muniyappa and Dr. G Parameshwar, both Dalits. Parameshwar would step out of the race as his name is in the running for Deputy CM. Siddaramaiah on the other hand had backed S R Patil, but this name is unlikely to go through.

The Congress would need to reward Shivakumar and also keep him happy due to his absence from the new government. The appointment of Shivakumar would also help the Congress capitalise in the Vokkaliga belt. He is one of the strongest Vokkaliga leaders in Karnataka and holds considerable sway in the Old Mysore region, which is dominated by the Vokkaligas. With Shivakumar bailing out the Congress both in Karnataka and Gujarat, it appears that the party would reward him with the post of KPCC chief.