I am born Hindu and will die Hindu: Karnataka DCM Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar's participation in Mahashivaratri celebrations in Tamil Nadu which was also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has come in for criticism from within the ruling party, with the senior leader asserting he was a born Hindu will die as one.
Shivakumar's assertion came amidst a section of Congress leaders including All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary P V Mohan raising voice against Shivakumar's participation in the Mahashivaratri ceremony at Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Yoga Center in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore.
Sharing a screen shot of Shivakumar's post on 'X' about his Coimbatore visit, Mohan wrote, "Thanking for an invitation from someone who mocks RG (Rahul Gandhi), the hope of the nation&aligns with RSS’s narratives, while serving as a president of a secular party, it misleads party workers. It is conviction rather than compromise (that) ensures the party's growth. Otherwise, it damages the core."
When reporters asked Shivakumar about his Coimbatore visit during a press conference on Wednesday, the deputy CM said: "Our Congress president's name is Mallikarjun Kharge. Who is Mallikarjuna? It's Shiva only. Should he change his name,"
Sharing his Mahakumbh experience, the Congress leader said it was well organised and he would prefer not to find fault with it.
"My experience regarding Mahakumbh was very good. I appreciated the way they organised it. It is not a small job. There might be some problems here and there. Trains may have caused problems. I don't like to find faults. It is very satisfactory."
He further added, "I am a Hindu. I am a born Hindu and I will die as a Hindu but I love and respect all the religions.”
Explaining satisfaction in spiritual terms, Shivakumar said some devotees perform Pooja themselves while some hire priests for it.
Quoting a Sanskrit verse, he said, "with the priest's prayers, Shiva can manifest in a stone."
While asserting his faith in Hinduism, he also underlined his respect for other belief systems.
"When I was in jail, I had learnt about Sikhism and the way it was founded. I took took classes on Sikhism while in jail," the DCM said.
Shivakumar further said visits Jain monasteries, Dargah and churches where the priests of all the three communities bless him.
"They bless me. Should I lock their mouths," he asked.
Shivakumar had earlier pointed out that rumours had circulated regarding his participation in the Mahashivaratri celebrations, with some suggesting that he was aligning himself with the BJP.
"Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation came and invited me (for Shivaratri celebrations in Coimbatore). He is from Mysuru. He is a great man and I admire his knowledge and stature but there are many who criticise him."
He explained further that Sadhguru came all the way from Tamil Nadu and waited for him.
"Last time my daughter had gone there...there were some social media posts saying that I am getting closer to the BJP though I haven't met Amit Shah yet," Shivakumar had said.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
