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Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar is supported by Congress despite his controversial comments on changing the Constitution, aiming to counter BJP’s narrative before elections.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (Photo: PTI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is receiving substantial backing from his party. The entire Congress party is standing firmly behind him. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has moved two privilege notices against BJP MPs JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju. Additionally, Congress MP Priyanka Vadra has accused the Narendra Modi government of raising baseless issues to deliberately disrupt the functioning of Parliament.
Questions are being asked in political circles as to why DK Shivakumar’s comment is not causing unrest within the Congress and why is he receiving support despite his statement about changing the Constitution if the Congress comes to power, which could potentially harm Rahul Gandhi’s political message of ‘samvidhan khatre mein hai‘ (Constitution is in anger)?
The main reason is that DK Shivakumar is the trouble-shooter the party has lacked since the deaths of party veterans Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel. Whether it’s to counter horse trading or ensure that the Congress is not short-changed, DK Shivakumar is dispatched to handle the situation, as seen in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. He has also been made an observer during polls to ensure everything runs smoothly. Besides being the fund manager, Shivakumar has the confidence of the Gandhi siblings, who appreciate his aggressive approach against the BJP.
But that’s not the only reason. The Congress wants to highlight that the BJP and the government are raising this issue to divert attention from the cash recovery at Delhi High Court former Chief Justice Yashwant Varma’s home. Additionally, they hope to garner more support from other INDIA bloc parties. This strategy seems to be working. While the TMC has not backed Shivakumar’s comments, party leader Derek O’Brien stated that the treasury bench deliberately created a situation to disrupt the House.
In Karnataka, the Congress is under internal pressure. DK Shivakumar hopes that after 2.5 years of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s tenure, he can become the chief minister. The Congress top leadership wants to keep Shivakumar happy, fearing that any reprimand could make the state Congress unit angry and restless, potentially aiding the BJP, which is quite powerful in the state. The party does not want to open multiple fronts in the state at this time.
Shivakumar, while speaking about the bill which provided a 4 per cent quota to Muslims in public contracts in the state on News18 India Diamond States Summit 2025 on Sunday, said that the “constitution will be changing”. His remarks sparked a massive row and drew backlash from BJP leaders.
While speaking about the reservation, Shivakumar went on to say “Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also”.
“There is a big debate going on regarding this issue. Many BJP leaders have claimed that Muslims are repairing bike punctures. It is our responsibility to uplift every section of society, allowing them to come forward and be part of the development. We have initiated something, and we know that everyone will approach the court. Many judgments have altered the Constitution over time,” Shivakumar said.
“Let us see, let us watch. Let what court comes out. We have started something, I know that everyone will go to the court. Let us wait for some good day, the day will come. Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also,” he added.
Shivakumar’s comments have raised the question of whether what is beneficial in one state may not be good for the national picture. The Congress top leadership is being forced to remain silent. After all, Bihar, set for polls later this year, with its substantial Muslim population, is the core vote bank for both the RJD and the Congress. Shivakumar’s words may actually resonate there. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have emphasised that minorities like Muslims and Dalits are being hurt by the BJP’s policies.
While DK Shivakumar’s talk about a change in the Constitution gives an issue to the BJP, the Congress does not see it as a problem for now, especially in the context of the upcoming elections in Bihar and West Bengal in 2026. Shivakumar’s words may address the party’s concerns about losing ground in these important states.
However, the issue is that while DK Shivakumar’s words may work locally for the Congress, they do not align well with Rahul Gandhi’s narrative that the BJP seeks to change the Constitution. The Network18 interview made it clear that if the Congress returns to power, one of its priorities will be to change the Constitution. This was a key point in Rahul Gandhi’s fight against the BJP in 2024. Will Shivakumar’s words come back to haunt him? For now, the party has little choice but to support the strongman from Karnataka.
