Gucci Scarves, LV Stoles & Rolex Watch: How DK Shivakumar Turned Luxury Into Political Branding
Gucci Scarves, LV Stoles & Rolex Watch: How DK Shivakumar Turned Luxury Into Political Branding Written By, Last Updated: May 29, 2026, 15:31 IST The
Gucci Scarves, LV Stoles & Rolex Watch: How DK Shivakumar Turned Luxury Into Political Branding Written By, Last Updated: May 29, 2026, 15:31 IST The man poised to become Karnataka’s next chief minister has never really pretended to be minimalist Rapid Read DK Shivakumar wears Gucci scarves, Louis Vuitton stoles, Ferragamo accessories, Cartier watches and designer sunglasses openly; almost as a political statement. Crumpled kurtas, economy-class photo ops, rubber slippers, steel tumblers and the carefully rehearsed language of simplicity— For decades, Indian politicians across parties have carefully cultivated the optics of austerity. Then, there is DK Shivakumar. The man poised to become Karnataka’s next chief minister has never really pretended to be minimalist. He wears Gucci scarves, Louis Vuitton stoles, Ferragamo accessories, Cartier watches and designer sunglasses openly; almost as a political statement. In a political culture where leaders are routinely attacked for displaying wealth, Shivakumar’s approach stands out because he rarely denies or downplays it. “Do I not have the right to wear a watch of my choice?" he famously said while defending his luxury watches after BJP criticism.
The Anti-Austerity Politician As Congress prepares for a leadership transition from Siddaramaiah to Shivakumar, attention has once again shifted to the about-to-be chief minister’s carefully curated public image. The Economic Times described him as a leader who “wears his wealth on his sleeve", noting his fondness for luxury scarves, watches and high-end accessories from brands like Gucci, Burberry, Fendi and Louis Vuitton. His signature look—a draped designer scarf over a crisp white shirt or kurta—has become as recognisable in Karnataka politics as his aggressive organisational style. Unlike politicians who carefully avoid appearing elite, Shivakumar seems to have concluded long ago that voters already know he is wealthy and that pretending otherwise serves little purpose. According to his 2023 election affidavit, Shivakumar and his family declared assets worth over Rs 1,400 crore, placing him among India’s richest politicians. His wealth reportedly comes from interests spanning real estate, infrastructure, education and quarrying. Yet He Avoids Certain Elite Optics What makes Shivakumar’s image more layered, however, is that even while embracing luxury fashion, he reportedly avoids some symbols of political elitism.
According to Mint, he often prefers scheduled commercial flights over chartered jets and avoids VIP lounges, choosing instead to sit among regular passengers. Congress insiders also frequently project him as someone equally comfortable in elite circles and old Bengaluru’s grounded political culture, citing his fondness for iconic local eateries like Vidyarthi Bhavan and his relentless grassroots networking. The ‘Troubleshooter’ Who Became Bigger Than Optics Shivakumar’s political relevance ultimately comes less from luxury branding and more from his reputation inside Congress as the party’s ultimate crisis manager. Over the years, he became the Congress high command’s go-to “troubleshooter", flying across states to prevent MLA poaching operations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and elsewhere. That reputation dramatically expanded after the 2019 Karnataka political crisis, when Shivakumar emerged as one of the Congress’s most visible organisational warriors against BJP expansion. He also spent nearly two months in jail in a money laundering case investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, allegations he has denied. Why Karnataka Accepts What Other States Might Not Perhaps, the most interesting aspect of Shivakumar’s image is that Karnataka’s political culture appears more accepting of visible wealth than many other Indian states.
Congress leaders quoted by The Economic Times argue that voters in Karnataka are often less uncomfortable with leaders displaying prosperity openly, especially if they are also seen as effective political managers. That partly explains why controversies over luxury watches or branded scarves have rarely caused lasting political damage to Shivakumar. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 29, 2026, 15:31 IST News india Gucci Scarves, LV Stoles & Rolex Watch: How DK Shivakumar Turned Luxury Into Political Branding 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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