Blurb
DK Shivakumar is a party stalwart who has strengthened the Congress from the village level to the national stage, says State Youth Congress President Manjunath Gowda.
CH NEWS
BENGALURU
State Youth Congress President Manjunath Gowda on Sunday strongly backed Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar for the Chief Minister’s post, saying the senior Congress leader possessed the capability, intelligence and organisational strength required to lead the State.
Addressing a press conference at the KPCC office in Bengaluru, Manjunath Gowda said there was nothing wrong in party workers and supporters wanting Shivakumar to become the Chief Minister in the future.
“DK Shivakumar should become the Chief Minister. Why not? He has the ability and leadership qualities. The right time should come and when that moment arrives, he will become the Chief Minister,” he said.
Praising Shivakumar’s contribution to the Congress organisation, Gowda described him as a grassroots leader who had built the party structure from villages to the national level. He also said Shivakumar was known for nurturing ordinary workers and giving opportunities to leaders from middle-class backgrounds.
“Elsewhere, leaders do politics only for their own families or children. But DK Shivakumar encourages people who come from ordinary backgrounds. Nearly 95 per cent of the leaders he has supported belong to middle-class families. I myself am an example,” he said.
The Youth Congress leader also accused the BJP of attempting to politically target Shivakumar and trying unsuccessfully to attract him. “Many are trying to lure him, but it is not happening. He always stands by the Congress party and follows the party’s direction,” he added.
Speaking on the alleged NEET examination paper leak controversy, Gowda launched a sharp attack on the Union government and accused it of failing students across the country. He alleged that the integrity of competitive examinations had weakened during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The NEET paper leak is a huge tragedy for students. Their future is being destroyed. We will stage a major protest on May 21 against these irregularities,” he said.
Gowda said Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala would participate in the agitation, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also been invited.
He further alleged that organised networks and coaching centres in parts of North India were involved in exam-related malpractices, including selling leaked question papers for huge sums. He criticised Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for not giving a satisfactory explanation regarding the controversy.
Calling for stringent action against those involved, Gowda said there should be “zero tolerance” towards any mafia operating in entrance examinations and stressed that merit and transparency must be protected to safeguard students’ futures.