Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar speaking in the Legislative Assembly, in Bengaluru on Friday.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
In a political optics of outreach to the Opposition leaders during his maiden speech on the floor of the Legislative Council on Friday, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar heaped praise on his predecessors cutting across party lines, especially his bete noire and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, praising him for his “vision.”Seeking cooperation from the Opposition to utiliSe the State’s potential and take Karnataka’s development further, the Chief Minister said, “I have my differences with him (Mr. Kumaraswamy), but his vision of Peripheral Ring Road, five townships (including the now controversial Bidadi project) and planning was good... I do not know if he faced obstacles in implementation or did not have the time. We are continuing his vision.”Incidentally, both leaders are at loggerheads over the implementation of the Bidadi project with the Janata Dal (Secular) opposing it tooth and nail.He also praised former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda for his commitment to irrigation and his contribution in bringing in Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project. “Imagine if there was no NICE Road, what would have happened to Bengaluru. If he had five to six years tenure, he could have contributed more.”Mr. Shivakumar credited former Prime Minister the late Atal Behari Vajpayee for his vision of highway networks, and former Chief Minister the late J.H. Patel for rising above politics. He noted the hard work of former BJP Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa, D.V. Sadananda Gowda and Jagdish Shettar.The Chief Minister, who during his swearing-in period had visited the residence of former Chief Ministers, also referred to the tenures of Ramakrishna Hegde, S.R. Bommai, Veerendra Patil, S. Bangarappa, M. Veerappa Moily, N. Dharam Singh, and Siddaramaiah.“Power is not permanent and power will not remain for too long. I want to make friends since friends are permanent... I have certain thoughts and vision. Let us work together,” the Chief Minister said.Urging the Opposition to point out at mistakes when his government errs, he said, “I am open for any investigation.”Demand for S.M. Krishna’s statueCongress MLC K. Govindraj urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to install a statue of former Chief Minister the late S.M. Krishna on the Vikasa Soudha premises or any suitable place.Considering the contribution of the late Chief Minister, who was instrumental in the construction of the Vikasa Soudha, a statue should be installed in honour of him, he said.During his speech in the Legislative Council, Mr. Shivakumar also recalled his long association with the late Chief Minister. He called himself the “blue-eyed boy” of both Krishna and S. Bangarappa. Published - August 14, 2026 08:35 pm IST
