Bengaluru stampede: DK Shivakumar’s image takes a hit as Opposition mounts pressure

Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar holds IPL trophy at Chinnaswamy Stadium

In June 2023, Karnataka deputy CM and Bengaluru development minister DK Shivakumar launched the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative to revamp the city’s image, marred by traffic chaos and flooding.

Two years later, his own brand image took a major hit. The stampede that broke out outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL victory celebrations left 11 people dead- all under 40, including several teenagers - and over 70 others injured. Shivakumar’s attempt to capitalise on the IPL win has now drawn flak from all quarters.

Also read: Brand Bengaluru: 70,000 suggestions from citizens; ball in Karnataka govt's court

Responding to criticism from the Opposition, Shivakumar said he had no need for ‘additional branding’ and that his reputation came from the people. He claimed RCB fans were keen on celebrating and accused opposition parties, including JD(S), of taking a U-turn after the tragedy. “They are doing politics over dead bodies. We won’t stoop to that level,” he said.

On his presence at the stadium event after the incident, he claimed ignorance. “There was a huge crowd. I asked them to finish within 10 minutes,” he said, though he did concede that Bengaluru’s image had suffered.

The incident could seriously dent Shivakumar’s ambitions to stake his claim for the Chief Minister’s post in October 2025, when the Congress government completes its mid-term mark. However, Congress party leaders maintain that there is no formal power-sharing arrangement, and Siddaramaiah- who has already announced that he won’t contest any more elections- is reportedly unwilling to step aside.

Shivakumar’s decision to wave the RCB flag, receive the team (owned by United Spirits Ltd) at HAL airport, attend both the Vidhana Soudha and Chinnaswamy Stadium events, and lift the trophy, all after the tragedy, has irked not just the public but also party colleagues.

Also read: Bengaluru stampede: Why were netas spared? Questions arise after top cops suspended, FIRs filed against RCB and KSCA

The Congress high command summoned both CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to Delhi on June 10. Siddaramaiah, however, distanced himself from the affair, saying: “This incident shouldn’t have happened. It happened at the cricket stadium. I don’t have any connection with it.”

He added that while deaths were reported to hospitals around 3:50pm, he only learned about them at 5:45pm. “I have taken action against whoever has done wrong,” he said.

Congress central leaders are wary of upsetting the ‘Karnataka governance model,’ which helped the party win Telangana and improve its Lok Sabha tally. The Congress-led INDIA bloc outperformed expectations in the 2024 polls, securing 234 seats, including 99 for Congress, earning it opposition status after a decade.

A senior Congress leader told Moneycontrol that the party leadership is “strongly displeased” with how the situation was handled. “This should have been avoided. While DK (Shivakumar) has been a loyal crisis manager, the party is above individuals,” the leader said.

Shivakumar has long been seen as the Congress’ go-to troubleshooter - from sheltering Gujarat Congress MLAs during a political crisis, to withstanding ED and IT raids, to even spending 50 days in Tihar Jail. He played a key role in the Congress comeback in Karnataka in 2023 and has often helped the party when resources ran low.

Also read: Police warnings ignored, poor planning: How RCB victory celebration turned deadly in Bengaluru

An MLA from Kanakapura assembly segment, Shivakumar now holds the Bengaluru development portfolio and takes decisions for the city in the absence of an elected council. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council’s term ended in 2020, and no elections have been held since.  Some Congress MLAs, including transport minister R Ramalinga Reddy, had publicly stated that the Bengaluru Development portfolio should have been given to a representative from the state capital.

Critics said that while Shivakumar has focused on grand branding projects, Bengaluru’s basic infrastructure has deteriorated. The delay in BBMP elections and poor condition of roads, drains, and public services have led to rising public dissatisfaction.

“Guarantee schemes are helping, but there is growing anger over the lack of work done to improve the city in the last two years. Even Congress functionaries are unhappy with unilateral decisions being taken without any consultations, which they believe will harm the party in the long run. Most officials who held power during the previous BJP regimes continue to wield influence, and day-to-day life in Bengaluru has worsened,” said another Congress leader on condition of anonymity.

Opposition steps up attack

Union minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar rushed from court in Kanakapura to HAL airport upon learning of the RCB team’s arrival, waving a flag and acting as if he had won the trophy himself. Kumaraswamy said, “The first death occurred at 3:10pm, but DK was still kissing the trophy at the stadium. Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah was out eating dosa and halwa with his grandson.”

He added, “Was all this drama necessary? Vidhana Soudha event looked like a private family affair with ministers’ kids posing for photos. Shivakumar even shoved someone off the dais.”

BJP state president BY Vijayendra condemned the celebrations, saying Shivakumar continued smiling and kissing the trophy while TV channels reported fatalities.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that by the time the stadium event began, 7 to 8 deaths had already occurred. “Even after that, they went ahead with cracker celebrations worth Rs 1 crore. After 11 deaths, do you even have humanity?” Ashoka asked.

Ignored warnings, administrative fallout

Despite clear warnings from the police advising against immediate celebrations and requesting the event be postponed, the event went ahead. The aftermath: Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayananda and four senior officers were suspended, four people including RCB’s marketing head and staff from DNA Entertainment were arrested, and MLC K Govindaraj was removed as political secretary to CM Siddaramaiah. Additionally, ADGP (intelligence) Hemant Nimbalkar was transferred, and KSCA secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam resigned, citing “moral responsibility.”

Also, read: 'Brand Bengaluru' caught between DK Shivakumar’s vanity projects and city's crumbling infra