The elevation of DK Shivakumar is likely to heat up politics in the Vokkliaga belt

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and former Chief Ministers BS Yediyurappa, HD Kumaraswamy and Basavaraj Bommai in Bengaluru.

Politics in the heartland of Vokkaliga in the Old Mysore region is likely to heat up with the elevation of DK Shivakumar, seen as a traditional foe of Janata Dal (secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda and in later years Union minister HD Kumaraswamy.

The regional party, now in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), could come under pressure as Mr Shivakumar is likely to make efforts to woo the landowning community, which is now seen siding with Mr Gowda’s family.

In the last decade, the rivalry between the two families has intensified. The Bidadi township project, initiated by Mr. Kumaraswamy but currently being pushed by Mr. Shivakumar, is expected to turn into a flashpoint.

“We expect Mr Shivakumar to be aggressive, but we have the ability to face the challenge. The party was also attacked by (former chief minister) SM Krishna in the initial years. But we have survived tough times and will continue to do so,” a JD(S) source told The Hindu when asked if the party felt threatened. However, the source did not rule out the possibility of the Congress trying to sway Vokkaliga voters/leaders to the party’s side.

The JD(S), which entered into an alliance with the BJP in 2023 “to protect its flock” soon after the electoral battle, appears to be pinning its hopes on the alliance as a strong hedge against the onslaught of the Mr Shivakumar-led Congress.

HDK more often in the state?

Another source said Mr Kumaraswamy could be seen more often in the state in the coming months to protect the party’s interests and also challenge the next chief minister. Party leaders have already given enough indications in public forums about his return to state politics.

“Jodetthu” phase.

Since Mr. Gowda’s defeat at the hands of the Kanakapura strongman in the Sathanur constituency in 1989, the relationship between the two families has remained frosty. In 2004, journalist-turned-politician Tejwasini Gowda, supported by Mr. Shivakumar, defeated Mr. Gowda in the then Kanakapura Lok Sabha constituency. It was only during the 14-month JD(S)-Congress coalition under Mr. Kumaraswamy that there was a thaw when the two were called “Jodetthu” (a pair of bulls).

Lately, the pendulum has been swinging both ways. If the Mr Shivakumar-led Congress handed the JD(S) its worst defeat in the Old Mysore region in the 2023 assembly elections, including a washout in its stronghold of Mandya, the JD(S) in alliance with the BJP defeated the Congress in the key Vokkaliga constituencies, including Mandya, in the 2024 general elections.

In Bengaluru Rural JD(S) backed the BJP to defeat Mr Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh with a huge margin that shook the brothers.

A political analyst said, “The biggest challenge for Mr Shivakumar in the coming months is to break the influence and general perception of Mr Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy as Vokkaliga leaders. His outreach to the community will be closely watched and he has to position himself as a counter magnet in Vokkaliga politics to the Congress.”

With a term of less than two years, his moves will be closely watched to see if he emerges as a senior Vokkaliga leader, the analyst said.

Published – 29 May 2026 07:07 IST