DK Shivakumar is a prominent leader of the Congress Party in Karnataka and has held various positions within the Congress party, including as Chairman of the Karnataka State Congress Committee (KPCC). He has also served as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and held ministerial portfolios in the Karnataka government. He was awarded the title of MLA eight times and is considered one of the richest politicians in India.
Wiki/Biography
Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar aka DK Shivakumar was born on Tuesday, May 15, 1962 (age 62; as of 2024) in Kanakapura, a small village near Bangalore in the state of Karnataka. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He studied at Bangalore National Public School till eighth grade, after which he was suspended from school for failing. While studying at RC College, Bangalore, he decided to enter politics. He dropped out of college and joined the Youth Congress, the youth wing of the Congress party, and served as the general secretary of the Karnataka Youth Congress from 1983 to 1985. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Karnataka. 2006, Mysore Open University.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′10″
Weight (approximately): 70kg
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: dark brown
family
He was born into a Vokkaliga family.
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is Kempegowda and mother’s name is Gouramma. His father died on December 31, 2013, at the age of 82. He has a younger brother DK Suresh (also an MLA) and a younger sister Manjula Shantachandra.
DK Shivakumar with his mother Gouramma and brother DK Suresh
wife and children
In 1993, he married Usha. They have two daughters named Aishwarya and Abhirana and a son named Aakash. Eldest daughter Aishwarya is married to Amartya, son of Café Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha.
DK Shivakumar (far left) and his wife Usha (far right) during the marriage of his daughter Aishwarya to VG Siddhartha’s son Amartya
DK Shivakumar and his son Aakash Shivakumar
religion
He believes in Hinduism.
sign
Profession
politics
DK Shivakumar began his political journey as a student leader in the early 1980s and gradually rose through the ranks of the Congress party. In 1989, at the age of 27, he won his first election as a member of the Congress Party representing the Sathanur constituency in Mysuru district. He won again in the parliamentary elections held in 1994, 1999 and 2004, all from the same constituency. He won from Kanakapura constituency in the assembly elections held in 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2023.
DK Shivakumar speaks at election rally
Save Maharashtra Congress Government
Shivakumar’s leadership came to the fore in 2002 when Maharashtra Congress Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh faced a no-confidence motion. Shivakumar gathered all Congress MPs at a resort in Bengaluru for a week and then sent them safely back to Mumbai, where Deshmukh won a vote of confidence.
DK Shivakumar was a close confidant of the Gandhi family and supported Rahul Gandhi during the Bharatjodha pilgrimage
A landslide victory in 2023
DK Shivakumar was emotional as the counting of votes for the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Elections revealed a major victory for his party in Karnataka. He said he had promised Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to ensure victory in Karnataka. He mentioned his assurances to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Malikajun Haji and recalled Sonia Gandhi visiting him in jail. Speaking to reporters, he said the congressional office means a lot to them, calling it their temple. He further added that the next step would be decided by the congressional offices. Out of the 224 seats in the Karnataka Assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 66 seats, the JD(S) won 19 seats and other independent candidates won 4 seats.
DK Shivakumar (second from left) with other prominent Congress leaders
On May 20, 2023, he was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.
dispute
illegal mining charges
Shivakumar and his family face charges of illegal mining, illegal transport of granite and improper land allocation. In 2015, the Karnataka High Court issued notices to Shivakumar and his family for their involvement in illegal mining activities in Karnataka’s Kanakapura and Ramanagaram districts. Besides, Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh were also accused of encroaching on 66 acres of land earmarked for the welfare of Dalits and economically weaker sections.
Income Tax Raids 2017
On August 2, 2017, the Income Tax department raided Shivakumar’s residence and office in Bengaluru over alleged tax issues. They also raided the Eagleton Golf Resort in Bidadi, owned by Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh. The attacks took place in several cities, including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chennai and Kanakapura. About 300 officers conducted 80 hours of searches at 67 locations. They seized Rs 8 crore from Shivakumar’s Delhi residence and Rs 2 crore from other places. The raid came after 44 Congress members from Gujarat stayed at the resort after some legislators defected to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The raids ended on August 5 and an undisclosed revenue of around Rs 300 crore was reportedly recovered. Shivakumar and his associates were granted anticipatory bail. He was arrested on September 3, 2019 on tax evasion charges. He claimed that his arrest was politically motivated and a retaliatory move by the then Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka.
DK Shivakumar arrested in 2019
‘Rs 100 Crore’ Bribery Allegation
On May 17, 2024, he was accused of bribing BJP leader G Devaraje Gowda in Rs. 100 Crore for falsely naming HD Kumaraswamy in the sex scandal, allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna. Gowda alleged that DK Shivakumar obtained a USB drive from Revanna’s former driver Karthik Gowda; the USB drive contained explicit videos involving Prajwal Revanna, which were later distributed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
car collection
He owns a Toyota Qualis.
property investment
DK Shivakumar has invested in cooperative banks, educational institutions, agricultural land and apartments in Mysore, Mumbai, Kanakapura, Bengaluru and Delhi. He has invested in real estate properties such as Shobha Developers, Davanam Properties, Kabini Granites, Dalmia Cement and others.
income
His income for the financial year 2022-23 is Rs 14 crore.
assets and property
movable property
- Bank Deposit: Rs. 14,67,73,028
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 8,35,026
- Jewelry: Rs. 1,47,84,014
- Other assets (Rolex and Hublot watches): Rs. 32,90,246
real estate
- Agricultural Land: Rs. 25,50,00,000
- Non-agricultural land: Rs. 57,50,00,000
- Commercial Buildings: Rs. 8,52,36,47,685
- Residential Building: Rs. 19,10,00,000
Note: The movable and immovable property estimates given are based on 2022. Excludes assets owned by his wife and dependents (minors).
net worth
Shivakumar’s net worth for FY 2022-2023 is estimated to be Rs. 14.14 Crores. It does not include the net worth of his wife and dependents (minors). In July 2023, some reports claimed that he was the richest MP in the country.
tattoo
He has a tattoo on his right elbow.
Facts/Trivia
- He is a strong believer in numerology and his favorite number is 6, which according to him is ruled by Venus and attracts strength.
- He has many nicknames, including DK Shi, DKS, Kanakapura Rock, Congress’ Man Friday and The Tiger of Santhur.
- According to reports, during his early years in politics, he was a protégé of Bangalore gangster Ramachandra Kotwal.
- DK Shivakumar vowed to take action against DGP Praveen Sood, who later became CBI director in March 2023, claiming that Sood favored the BJP in Karnataka during his tenure.
- In 2023, DK Shivkumar’s eldest daughter Aishwarya shared her experience of visiting her father in jail on the talk show Ramesh Weekend. She revealed that in order to hide her identity, she pretended to be a journalist and got a bob haircut to look different. Initially, she was not allowed to meet her father, but she finally got the chance when the judge announced that the family could talk to DK Shivkumar for 15 minutes when he was brought to court. Aishwarya said,
Despite my presence, I was not allowed to see my father because the authorities failed to recognize my disguise. They did give me a chance, though, and said I would only be allowed to see my father if he recognized me. Eventually, my father recognized me and I had fifteen minutes to talk to him. This is what I need very much. From then on, I have the courage to face everything and take care of my family. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education