When Ambition Overwhelms Governance: The DKS Problem and Congress’s Silence

 The daily spectacle around D. K. Shivakumar’s chief ministerial ambitions has moved well beyond internal party debate and into the realm of political self-harm. What should have been a period of stable governance in Karnataka has instead become a running commentary on one man’s impatience for the gaddi—and a party high command’s inability or unwillingness to impose discipline.

Shivakumar is no marginal figure. As deputy chief minister handling crucial portfolios such as Bengaluru Development and Major Irrigation, he is entrusted with responsibilities that directly affect the state’s economic engine and agrarian backbone. Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure, planning chaos, and governance deficits alone demand full-time attention. Major irrigation projects are equally fraught, involving delays, disputes, and massive public expenditure. Yet, governance seems to take a back seat as political signalling takes centre stage.

The pattern is unmistakable. Statements are issued almost daily—by Shivakumar himself or by his brother, D. K. Suresh—carefully worded as expressions of loyalty, destiny, or workers’ wishes, but transparently aimed at staking a claim. This camouflage fools no one. The effect is corrosive: it weakens the authority of the sitting chief minister, distracts the administration, and floods the media with internal power games rather than policy or performance.

More damaging is the message it sends about the Congress party itself. It suggests that there is no one in the organisation who can rein in a powerful leader, that discipline has collapsed, and that ambition is now pursued through pressure tactics rather than institutional processes. This perception is fatal for a party already struggling with credibility in Karnataka and nationally.

Responsibility for this drift lies squarely with the central leadership. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi’s continued silence is not strategic restraint; it is abdication. If Shivakumar is the anointed successor, the party owes Karnataka clarity. If he is not, the leadership must say so unambiguously and insist that he focus on the job he currently holds. Allowing endless speculation when there is no vacancy only deepens confusion and erodes trust.

Political ambition is natural. Public spectacle is not. By tolerating this noise, the Congress is reinforcing the image of a party unable to manage its own house. At a time when governance and cohesion are essential for survival, letting personal dreams overshadow public duty is a luxury the party can no longer afford.

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