Jibe at Siddaramaiah? Shivakumar’s ‘some don’t agree to share power’ remark sets off speculation

DK Shivakumar

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday highlighted the importance of political sacrifice and power-sharing and how leaders nowadays are reluctant to do the same.

Detailing  the importance of political sacrifice and power-sharing, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday, emphasized how leaders nowadays are reluctant to do the same. He was addressing the valedictory function of the day-long national legal conclave on 'Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways'.

Though Shivakumar didn’t name anyone, his remarks have reignited speculation about a rift with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah over a rotational chief ministership – a deal the latter firmly denied.

Speaking at the event, Shivakumar lauded the Gandhi family’s contributions to the party and praised Sonia Gandhi’s decision to not assume the post of Prime Minister in 2004. “When Sonia Gandhi was asked by the President to take oath as the Prime Minister, she said, ‘For me, power is not important.’ She decided that a Sikh, a minority, and an economist could save the country and should become the Prime Minister,” Shivakumar said, calling it an unparalleled act of political sacrifice.

He also urged the lawyers community to help protect the right to vote of every Indian by creating legal banks in every constituency, as suggested by Rahul Gandhi.

"Congress' history is country's history, Congress' strength is country's strength. The Gandhi family has kept the Congress family united and the Congress has kept the country united. Otherwise our country would have been broken into various pieces," he said.

In an apparent dig at leaders unwilling to step aside, he added: “Has anyone in such a big democracy made such a sacrifice? Does anyone even sacrifice a small position today? Some MLAs and ministers share power, but some of us don't even agree to share power. Even at the panchayat level, many don't.”