The India News Manch, India’s largest political summit for 2023, hosted an exclusive conversation with Karnataka’s D.K. Shivakumar, who joined virtually. The interview began with a reflection on the Telangana elections, during which D.K. Shivakumar emphasized, “We invested not only our efforts but also our strategic thinking. It wasn’t just me; the entire party, from the national level, played a crucial role. The hard work of all leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, was evident. They campaigned effectively, and the strategy was well-planned. All senior leaders united, collaborated, and successfully convinced the people of Telangana that we would bring about change and provide good governance through a competent government.”
Moving beyond Telangana, the discussion shifted to the lessons learned from elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. DKS Shivakumar expressed concern over discrepancies in the electoral process, particularly regarding the EVM machines and postal ballots. He called for a reevaluation of the system, emphasizing the need to scrutinize VVPATs and implement measures to build confidence at every booth.
Shifting the focus to Karnataka, where the government has been in operation for six months, the speaker addressed concerns about the 5 guarantee scheme. When asked if it could strain the exchequer, the response emphasized the government’s priority on economic strength, citing the widespread impact of price increases on the population. “Our priority is on economic strength; the price rise has affected everyone. Our focus is on reducing inflation,” DKS said.
In response to the question about Rahul Gandhi and his potential candidacy for the position of Prime Minister, DKS said, “As far as the Congress party is concerned, we believe that INDIA will do well. INDIA will believe in collective leadership; all will join together. All the political parties in INDIA will fight together, whatever may be the result in the northern part at this assembly election. By that time, there will be a big change, and INDIA will emerge stronger.”
