The Janata Dal (Secular) has intensified its criticism of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, calling for his immediate resignation following recent remarks he made during a public interaction with apartment residents in Bengaluru. The controversy erupted following his participation in an event organized by the Bangalore Apartment Federation on the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill 2025, during which Shivakumar reportedly made statements many deemed intimidating and inappropriate for someone holding the state’s second-highest executive office.
The JDS accused Shivakumar of behaving in a manner wholly unfit for a public representative. In a series of strongly worded tweets, party leaders said, “DK Shivakumar, why did you become an MLA? Why did you become a minister? Why did you become a Deputy Chief Minister? You were elected to serve the people, to listen to their problems, and provide solutions. Instead, you threaten and intimidate citizens who have legitimate grievances. This is a blatant violation of the spirit of democracy and the Constitution. We are not living in the 1980s where such rowdy behaviour could go unchecked.”
"ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ನಾನು ಯಾರು ಅನ್ನೋದೇ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ, ನನ್ನತ್ರ ಇದೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬೇಡ" ! @DKShivakumar
ಹೌದು.. ಮಿಸ್ಟರ್ ಧಮ್ಕಿ ಡಿಕೆಶಿ ಅವರೇ,
ಆ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು ಯಾರ ಜೊತೆ ಇದ್ದೀರಿ ? ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ ಏನು ? ಎಂಬುದು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.
ಉಪಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯಾಗಿ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಸಚಿವರಾಗಿ ಬೀದಿರೌಡಿಯಂತೆ ವೇದಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲೇ… pic.twitter.com/s7O3c9pZqN
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) December 13, 2025
The criticism goes beyond his immediate remarks, with the JDS questioning Shivakumar’s approach to governance and the wider implications for Karnataka’s democratic system. “Your lust for power and habit of intimidation have reached alarming levels. Not restraining the misconduct of your followers, who act like rowdies under your patronage, threatens the democratic structure itself. Such behaviour is unacceptable from someone holding high public office,” the party argued, pointing out that the failure to curb such actions undermines public trust and sets a dangerous precedent.
The JDS also directly challenged the Congress high command and Rahul Gandhi, asserting that those who claim to uphold the Constitution must first insist on the resignation of politicians whose actions betray democratic principles. “It would be better for the Congress leadership to ensure that rowdy politicians like DK step down before lecturing citizens on constitutional values. A person who intimidates citizens has no right to hold public office,” the party said.
ನಾನ್ಯಾರು ಗೊತ್ತಾ ಎಂದು ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿರುವ @DKShivakumar ಅವರೇ, ನೀವು ಈಗ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಡಿಸಿಎಂ ಆ ದಿನಗಳ ಕೊತ್ವಾಲ್ ಶಿಷ್ಯ ಅಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಮರೆಯದಿರಿ.
ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರೊಬ್ಬರು ಬೇಡಿಕೆ ಈಡೇರಿಸುವಂತೆ ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದರೆ, ನಾನು ಯಾರು ಗೊತ್ತಾ? ಜೈಲಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಂದವನು ಎನ್ನುವ ಮೂಲಕ ತಮ್ಮ ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯನ್ನು ತಾವೇ ಬಯಲು… pic.twitter.com/TSlkuUq98B
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) December 13, 2025
Further criticism focused on Shivakumar’s behavior during the interaction. Reports indicate that he addressed apartment residents in a manner that combined expressions of support with political expectations, stating, “I have called this meeting because I stand with the home buyers. I understand your grievances and challenges. At the same time, I expect your support in the upcoming GBA elections. I have huge expectations from you and hope you will not disappoint me.”
His comments to Kiran Hebbar, in which he claimed to have “gone to jail without fearing the Prime Minister or Home Minister” and implied that threats would be met with equal firmness, have been interpreted as a veiled warning.
The JDS has highlighted that democracy is based on the principle that citizens have the right to question their representatives without fear of reprisal. Intimidating citizens on stage, as Shivakumar did, undermines both the Constitution and the electorate’s trust in governance. “Holding a book of the Constitution is not enough. Respecting citizens’ rights to question, dissent, and seek accountability is what true democratic governance demands. A representative who resorts to threats and coercion diminishes public faith in the system,” the party tweeted.
