DK Shivakumar welcomes Congress sweep in Karnataka bypolls: 'Harbinger of 2028'

The Congress's resounding victory in all three Karnataka bypolls—Shiggaon, Sandur, and Channapatna—was praised by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as a rejection of the Opposition's false propaganda and a triumph for welfare schemes.

In Short

• Congress wins all Karnataka bypolls, defeating BJP, JD(S)
• DK Shivakumar calls results a verdict against opposition's false propaganda
• Shivakumar confident of Congress's return in 2028 elections

Terming the Karnataka bypoll results as a lesson against the false propaganda of the Opposition and a victory for development and welfare schemes, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday (November 23) said the outcome signals what to expect in the 2028 Assembly elections.

The Congress swept all three Assembly bypolls in Karnataka—Shiggaon, Sandur, and Channapatna—defeating two BJP candidates and one JD(S) candidate.

Addressing a press conference at the Karnataka Congress office, Shivakumar stated, “Just yesterday, I said that the exit polls would be proven wrong. I also mentioned that the credit for the win or loss in some constituencies lies with me. We have convincingly won all three constituencies. It’s time for the Opposition to end its false propaganda. Politics of emotion doesn’t work—people have delivered a clear verdict on the politics of their livelihood.”

He added, “Opposition leaders accused us of diverting funds from development works to guarantee schemes. However, the Rs 56,000 crore we are spending on these schemes amounts to about Rs 250 crore per Assembly constituency. Isn’t that economically empowering the poor and the middle class? The people’s verdict has answered these allegations.”

‘THIS IS NOT THE LOSS OF NIKHIL OR BHARATH’

Among those defeated in the bypolls were the sons of former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and HD Kumaraswamy. Congress’s Pathan Yasir Ahmed Khan won the Shiggaon seat, defeating BJP’s Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai. In Channapatna, Congress candidate CP Yogeshwar defeated JD(S)’s Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Speaking on these results, Shivakumar said, “I wouldn’t call Nikhil’s loss in Channapatna his personal failure. His father, Kumaraswamy, rose to become Chief Minister from this constituency. This is the people’s verdict on the legacy he left behind. Similarly, it is not Bharath Bommai’s loss in Shiggaon. The verdict reflects the work of his father, Basavaraj Bommai. Criticisms may fade, but good work endures.”

Shivakumar urged Opposition leaders to stop making baseless allegations against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “This result proves that people do not accept lies. The bypolls took place across the Old Mysuru region, Kalyana Karnataka region, and Kittur Karnataka region, and the sentiment is crystal clear,” he noted.

CONGRESS STRENGTHENS MAJORITY

Shivakumar highlighted that the Congress’s tally in the Karnataka Assembly has now risen to 138.

“The election in Channapatna was not about the DK brothers; it was the people’s election. This victory belongs to the people, and they have given their mandate for Congress’s development agenda. I attribute this success to our guarantee schemes, Siddaramaiah’s leadership, and the hard work of our MLAs and party workers. They worked tirelessly, burning the midnight oil. We will continue our good governance,” he said.

He also thanked voters, “My heartfelt gratitude to the voters of all three constituencies. We are indebted to them and will repay this debt with responsible governance. Our unity will continue to drive us forward.”

When asked whether the result signaled the decline of the Deve Gowda family, Shivakumar replied, “I wouldn’t frame it that way. This is the people’s verdict. The media can interpret it as they wish.”

On whether this result hints at the Congress’s return to power in the 2028 Assembly elections, Shivakumar said, “Absolutely. As the President of the Karnataka Congress, I say this with responsibility, we will fulfil the aspirations of the people and return to power in 2028.”

KARNATAKA WELFARE MODEL SETS NATIONAL BENCHMARK

Commenting on the Maharashtra election results, Shivakumar said, “The BJP has copied our guarantee models in Maharashtra while continuing to criticize them. Karnataka’s welfare model has become a role model for the entire country.”

On Congress candidate CP Yogeshwar’s seemingly pessimistic remarks after the election, Shivakumar clarified, “Yogeshwar is an actor and knows how to speak in a given context. He never spoke about losing the election. Incidentally, Kumaraswamy is a producer, and Nikhil is also an actor.”

The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister congratulated Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on her victory in the Wayanad by-elections.