BENGALURU: The first 30 days of DK Shivakumar as chief minister have played out exactly like his political persona: High-decibel, fast-paced and intensely centralised.From attempting to settle long-standing inter-state water disputes to repairing Bengaluru’s pothole-ridden roads, the new CM has spent his first month trying to project the image of a decisive, no-nonsense administrator.
Yet, as the honeymoon period draws to a close, the reality of governance is catching up. The initial month has exposed a stark divide between rapid-fire announcements at Vidhana Soudha and the grinding friction of implementation on the ground, leaving political observers wondering if the targets are too ambitious. Populist movesShivakumar’s govt has focused on populist moves, like the free bus passes for all students, conversion of B-khata properties to A, exemption of the mandatory occupancy certificate and setting up youth clubs. For Bengaluru, he unveiled a Rs 2,000 crore plan to repair roads and promised faster execution of infrastructure projects.He institutionalised public grievance redressal by creating a dedicated Praja Seva department and announced a corruption helpline. Amid growing concerns over heinous crimes, he ordered antirowdy squads in every district and set a six-month deadline to complete recruitment to 72,000 govt posts. On the national front, Shivakumar displayed his ability to negotiate with the Centres. Unlike Siddaramaiah, his predecessor, he attended the NITI Aayog governing council meeting to press Karnataka’s demands. He also brought together Union jal shakti minister CR Patil and the chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to arrive at a consensus on protecting interests of farmers dependent on Tungabhadra dam water.On the governance front, he initiated verification of beneficiaries under the guarantee schemes to ensure benefits reached only Karnataka residents and to plug leaks, a politically sensitive exercise that had remained untouched earlier. He also demonstrated his political clout by ensuring a fifth Congress candidate won the legislative council elections, out-manoeuvring BJP-JD(S) alliance.A senior party functionary observed: “Shivakumar wants to prove he is an achiever who operates with corporate efficiency.” Significant blowbackBut the hyper-activity has triggered significant blowback. The proposed Bidadi integrated township has already hit a wall of ryot resistance, sparking sustained protests from local farmers over land acquisition. The opposition has lost no time in weaponizing the unrest.Political management within the ruling dispensation has also tested the new CM. A restricted initial intake left the cabinet with 20 vacant berths, triggering intense lobbying and open discontent — especially by Ramalinga Reddy and Krishna Byre Gowda — over portfolio allocations.The review of the guarantee schemes has also come under attack, with opposition parties alleging that the govt was tweaking beneficiary rules because of a cash crunch. Critics branded the verification exercise as a stalling tactic to delay welfare payouts due to fiscal stress.Political observers caution against drawing definitive conclusions from a single month in office. “Shivakumar has undoubtedly set an ambitious agenda. Whether that translates into administrative success will depend entirely on implementation over the next several months,” said MB Maramkal political strategist .As Shivakumar’s administration enters its second month, the principal challenge remains looming drought and water scarcity.
