'What Advice Can I Give Him’: Meeting Yet To Happen, Shivakumar-Kumaraswamy Rivalry Flares Again
'What Advice Can I Give Him’: Meeting Yet To Happen, Shivakumar-Kumaraswamy Rivalry Flares Again Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 08:50 IST
'What Advice Can I Give Him’: Meeting Yet To Happen, Shivakumar-Kumaraswamy Rivalry Flares Again Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 08:50 IST Kumaraswamy invoked the Sanskrit phrase 'Ati vinayam dhoorta lakshanam' - excessive humility is a sign of cunning - in a swipe at Shivakumar’s outreach to Opposition leaders. Rapid Read Karnataka CM Shivakumar (Left) and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. File image A meeting that has not even happened is already triggering political sparring between Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, underlining that one of the state’s longest-running rivalries remains as bitter as ever. As Shivakumar embarked on a carefully choreographed outreach exercise after taking oath as Chief Minister – calling on political veterans across party lines, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa – speculation grew that he could also meet his old rival Kumaraswamy. But even before any such meeting could materialise, Kumaraswamy dismissed the idea, mocking Shivakumar’s suggestion that he would seek his advice on governance and accusing the Congress of attempting to drive a wedge between the BJP and the JD(S). “What advice can I give him? He has repeatedly asked what I achieved as Chief Minister. If he comes to meet me, it is only for a photograph op. There is nothing more to it," Kumaraswamy said. The Union Minister also invoked the Sanskrit phrase “Ati vinayam dhoorta lakshanam" – excessive humility is a sign of cunning – a remark widely interpreted as a swipe at Shivakumar’s recent efforts to reach out to leaders across the political spectrum. The exchange comes at a politically sensitive moment, with tensions simmering between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance following the controversy surrounding former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda not being accommodated for another Rajya Sabha term.
Yet the latest war of words is only the latest chapter in one of Karnataka’s longest-running political rivalries. The Shivakumar-Kumaraswamy Rivalry The rivalry between Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy is not merely ideological but also regional, personal and dynastic. Both draw their political strength from the Vokkaliga heartland of Old Mysuru. While Shivakumar built his base in Sathanur and later Kanakapura, the Gowda family established its dominance in Ramanagara and Channapatna. For nearly three decades, the two camps have fought for political supremacy in the region. Every election in Ramanagara, Channapatna, Mandya, Kanakapura and Bengaluru Rural is viewed through the prism of the Shivakumar-Kumaraswamy contest. The battle is also one for leadership of Karnataka’s dominant Vokkaliga community. Shivakumar has emerged as the Congress’s most prominent Vokkaliga face, while Kumaraswamy who inherited the JD(S)’s traditional support base from his father, Deve Gowda, and continues to build it has been to a certain level to keep the Vokkaliga vote intact with the JDS. The rivalry extends beyond the two leaders themselves. Shivakumar’s brother and former MP DK Suresh has repeatedly clashed with the Gowda family electorally. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Kumaraswamy’s brother-in-law CN Manjunath defeated Suresh in Bengaluru Rural, an election that saw a bitter electoral fight and a wound that continues to be raw for the DK brothers. This added yet another chapter to the political feud between DK and HDK. Ironically, the two men have also been allies. In 2018, Shivakumar played a key role in stitching together the Congress-JD(S) coalition that propelled Kumaraswamy to the Chief Minister’s chair. The alliance, however, remained uneasy and collapsed within a year after a rebellion by MLAs. Today, the rivalry has resurfaced over issues ranging from Bengaluru’s development agenda to the proposed Bidadi township and the future political leadership of the Old Mysuru region. Against that backdrop, even a courtesy call has become political ammunition.
The bitterness was on full display in May when, while addressing a public meeting in Tumakuru as part of the Congress government’s completion of three years in office, Shivakumar launched a sharp attack on Kumaraswamy. Referring to the drive to convert B-Khata properties to A-Khata, Shivakumar said Kumaraswamy had gone around telling people, “Don’t do it now. Our government will come to power and I will get it done for you." What happened then? Quoting the 12th-century Lingayat philosopher and Vachana poet Allama Prabhu, Shivakumar attacked Kumaraswamy, saying: “Kotta kudureyannu eralaarada veeranu alla, shooranu alla," meaning one who does not know how to ride the horse already given to him, but desires another one, is neither a warrior nor a hero. The meaning being that a person who fails to manage, appreciate or utilise the power already in his hands, but continues to long for something else, lacks true courage and strength. Shivakumar went on to ask Kumaraswamy what exactly he had done when he was in power. “You claimed you would turn the tables on our government. What happened? What you could not do while in power, you claimed you would do with just 17 MLAs. Even that did not happen. Your MLAs never focused on the poor and the underprivileged," Shivakumar said in a scathing attack on Kumaraswamy. In the present context, Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of suddenly discovering sympathy for his father only because it wanted to weaken the BJP-JD(S) alliance. “Congress leaders have suddenly developed a great deal of concern for Deve Gowda because they are worried about the BJP-JD(S) alliance. Their intention is obvious — to create confusion, drive a wedge between the two parties and weaken the alliance," he alleged. “Those who are shedding tears for Deve Gowda today know very well how he was treated during his seven decades in public life.
Their concern is not genuine; it is driven by political calculations," he added. The remarks are significant because Shivakumar’s visit to Deve Gowda’s residence before taking oath was widely viewed as one of the sharpest political signals sent by the new Chief Minister. The visit allowed Shivakumar to project himself as a leader willing to rise above partisan divides while simultaneously reaching out to the Gowda patriarch at a time when sections of the JD(S) were upset with the BJP over the Rajya Sabha issue. For Shivakumar, the outreach is part of a larger effort to position himself as a consensus-builder. Over the past few weeks, he has met leaders cutting across political lines, including Yeddyurappa, Deve Gowda and several senior Congress leaders. Most recently, he was seen attending a family function at the residence of former Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda. Political observers say the optics were difficult for the JD(S) to ignore and Kumaraswamy used it to attack his arch rival. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously wor... Read More First Published: June 10, 2026, 08:50 IST News india 'What Advice Can I Give Him’: Meeting Yet To Happen, Shivakumar-Kumaraswamy Rivalry Flares Again Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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