Here's why DK Shivakumar wants to contest from JD(S) stronghold Channapatna in by-election
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D K Shivakumar, has sparked speculation by indicating his interest in contesting the upcoming Assembly bypoll from the seat vacated by H D Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular).
During a recent visit to Channapatna, Shivakumar expressed a sentimental attachment to the constituency, citing it as the starting point of his political career. He emphasized the potential for development in Channapatna, akin to his efforts in Kanakapura, his current stronghold.
“Channapatna is in my heart. It was part of the erstwhile Sathanur Assembly constituency that I represented. My political career actually started there. The people of Channaptna have been with me in tough times and I have a debt to repay,” he said.
“There is an opportunity to develop Channapatna in the same way I have developed Kanakapura (his current constituency). I am discussing with the local leaders and voters, and will make a decision on contesting later,” Shivakumar added.
The move is seen as a strategic bid to regain political ground within the Vokkaliga community, traditionally aligned with the JD(S), and to bolster his aspirations for the Chief Minister’s post.
Shivakumar suffered a personal loss, with his brother DK Suresh losing from the family bastion of Bengaluru Rural to Kumaraswamy’s brother-in-law C N Manjunath who contested on a BJP ticket.
The announcement comes in the wake of electoral setbacks for the Congress in Karnataka.
Shivakumar's political fortunes soared last year when he led the Congress to a decisive victory in the Assembly elections. The party secured 39 out of 61 seats in the Vokkaliga stronghold of south Karnataka, notably capturing six of seven seats in Mandya. This marked a significant increase from the 17 seats won in the region in 2018.
However, within 18 months, setbacks followed in the Lok Sabha elections. Out of 14 seats in south Karnataka, the Congress managed to retain only one in Hassan. This contrasted sharply with the 2019 elections when the party had held Bengaluru Rural. The results showed the emergence of a formidable JD(S)-BJP coalition as a counterbalance to the Congress in Karnataka.
The recent electoral losses in south Karnataka are seen as bolstering Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's position while weakening Shivakumar's influence. This development has boosted the spirits of several Congress leaders eyeing deputy chief minister or even chief ministerial roles if Siddaramaiah were to step down prematurely.
Looking ahead, Shivakumar's strategy, pending approval from the Congress high command, may involve contesting himself or backing Suresh in Channapatna. Shivakumar might vacate the secure seat of Kanakapura for his brother if he finds success in the by-election.
The JD(S) is reported to be considering fielding Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil in a third attempt at electoral success while the BJP’s front-runner is former minister C P Yogeshwar, a local strongman whom Kumaraswamy defeated in 2023 and in the past has joined hands with Shivakumar to defeat JD(S) candidates in the region.
After Shivakumar’s remarks, Kumaraswamy said, “The Deputy CM who has not stepped into Channapatna even once since coming to power has developed a sudden fondness for the region. He is talking about the development of Channapatna. People will decide about their love for Channapatna.”
Yogeshwar, who is now an MLC, said, “He (Shivakumar) is embarking on an impossible mission by trying to win Channapatna to become the CM. He can begin a new phase in his political career from Channapatna or his career could end in Channapatna as well. Let him contest. He is now the Deputy CM of the state. He is in the evening of his political career. He knows it. He has seen many ups and downs in his political career.”
Responding to the BJP leader, Shivakumar said people would decide if he was nearing the end of his political career or not. “I am from the region, I have asked the voters for support, I have asked them to strengthen me. I am not forcing them. They will support me if they have confidence in me,” he said.
Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur will also be witnessing bypolls on account of the Lok Sabha victories of their sitting MLAs Basavaraj Bommai and Congress leader E Tukaram, respectively.
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Climate Change crisis: IMD to change parameters to declare heatwaves
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The IMD, along with its technical partners, will soon revise the criteria for declaring heatwave conditions in the country, as the present parameters do not suit India’s geographical conditions, according to official sources here.
Kerala, in particular, has faced difficulties in issuing heatwave warnings because of the limitations of the existing parameters.
Sources in the India Meteorological Department said the state experienced severe heat and humidity this summer and, for the first time, weather forecasts were made based on the anti-cyclone system that formed near the Karnataka–Maharashtra coast.
"We have never had an anti-cyclone system form closer to the South before, and this time we had to predict the weather based on it," a senior IMD official told PTI.
Anti-cyclonic systems are common over north-western parts of India, but this year one formed near the southern region, leading to unusually hot nights.
The anti-cyclone caused downward air movement, which pushed warm air towards the surface and prevented it from dispersing at night, the official added. As a result, Kerala recorded night temperatures 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal.
Because Kerala has experienced a steady temperature increase during the summer months for the last few years, changing the parameters for declaring heat waves would benefit the state, enabling the authorities to issue warnings more efficiently, the official added.
The IMD currently issues hot and humid weather warnings, although the situation warrants a heatwave warning, as the existing parameters do not allow the department to issue one.
At present, the IMD issues a heat wave warning in coastal areas when the maximum temperature reaches 37 degree Celsius or more with a temperature departure of 4.5 degree Celsius over the recorded maximum temperature.
For plains, the threshold is 40 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more from normal, while for hilly regions it is 30 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more.
Officials said the current heatwave declaration parameters also require these conditions to be recorded at two stations in the state to issue the warnings.
"In Kerala, we hardly get to record these conditions in two areas; moreover, we have severe heat stress that can easily cause a heat stroke. So we have decided to rework the heatwave declaration parameters and the changes will be implemented shortly. There will be a consultation with the Disaster Management Authority also before finalising the parameters," the official said.
Throughout Kerala, temperatures recorded this summer were three to four degrees Celsius higher than usual. The state also reported multiple cases of heatstroke despite regular warnings issued by the IMD and the state disaster management authority.
According to experts, Kerala has become a climate change hotspot, with a steady increase in atmospheric temperatures and erratic monsoons.
The IMD has also predicted a below-normal monsoon this year, as this is the first time two consecutive El Nino years are being witnessed.
