Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s addresses to JD(S) workers signal pressure to consolidate Vokkaliga base

Amid the ongoing political turmoil between Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy over the Bidadi township project, the Chief Minister is urging JD(S) workers to see him as a friend rather than an adversary. | Photo credit: file photo

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s declaration that the Congress’ doors are open to Janata Dal (Secular) workers appears to be a carefully crafted message aimed at reshaping Karnataka’s political landscape in the early days of his tenure.

The immediate consequence is the effort to woo JD(S) grassroots workers, especially in the Old Mysore region, where the Congress and JD(S) traditionally compete for the same Vokkaliga vote bank.

Addressing workers in his Kanakapura constituency on Sunday, Mr. Shivakumar is signaling that the Congress is willing to accommodate local JD(S) leaders and cadres who feel left out after the BJP-JD(S) alliance.

In the past few years, several leaders have left the JD(S) to become Congress MLAs, leading to a sharp decline in JD(S) seats from 37 in 2018 to 19 in the 2023 assembly elections. Its vote share also declined from 18.3% to 13.39% during the period.

The remark was seen by Mr Shivakumar as an early political offensive to achieve three goals – further weakening the JD(S), consolidating the Vokkaliga leadership under the Congress and strengthening the Congress’ organizational base ahead of the 2028 elections.

Consolidation of space

As the first Vokkaliga Chief Minister from the Congress in two decades, Mr. Shivakumar is aiming to emerge as a major political leader of the community. The JD(S) has historically relied on Vokkaliga for support, especially in South Karnataka. If even a section of JD(S) workers shift their allegiance to the Congress, it could accelerate the erosion of the JD(S) traditional base.

The statement apparently serves as a political message to Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Just four days after taking office, Mr Shivakumar is hinting that the Congress intends to expand into areas where the JD(S) has remained influential. The timing is important as the JD(S) is already facing pressure to maintain its identity within the BJP alliance.

Amid the ongoing political turmoil between the two leaders over the Bidadi township project, the chief minister urged JD(S) workers to see him as a friend rather than an adversary.

He also reminded the JD(S) that the Congress supported the former by forming an alliance in 2018 to keep the BJP out of power.

Disruption of calculations

The elevation of the Vokkaliga leader to the top post has the potential to disrupt the strategy of both the JD(S) and the BJP. Traditionally, the BJP’s strength has been in the Lingayat belt of North Karnataka and it planned to penetrate deeper into the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysore region in alliance with the JD(S) and also field its own candidates.

Mr. Shivakumar becoming Chief Minister has obviously complicated this calculation for the opposition. The BJP planned to expand its footprint beyond its traditional strongholds by appointing R. Ahok as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. But Mr. Shivakumar’s elevation is expected to present a new challenge to the saffron party.

The JD(S) too is expected to face many hurdles. Now Mr. Shivakumar has authority and is expected to break this JD(S) dominance in the region through various government decisions to woo the community. The name of Ramanagara has already been changed to Bengaluru South district and more such decisions can be expected.

Now JD(S) has to re-strategize to defend its core group by expanding organizational expansion and mobilizing cadres. The Chief Minister’s success would depend on how many JD(S) leaders feel that their political future rests with the ruling Congress rather than Mr. Kumaraswamy’s party.

Published – 09 Jun 2026 19:56 IST