Guwahati, Jan 9: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar on January 8 said he would abide by the party’s decision to appoint him as a senior observer for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, stressing that complying with organisational directives is fundamental to being a Congressman.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said he had taken note of the All India Congress Committee’s announcement naming him as one of the observers for Assam and confirmed that he would assume the responsibility. He maintained that individual preferences take a back seat when the party assigns a role. “I don’t have any option. Whatever the party tells us to do, we have to do it. That is what being a Congressman means,” he said, adding that he had previously visited Assam and would do so again as directed.
The Congress on Wednesday appointed Shivakumar, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Jharkhand MLA Bandhu Tirkey as senior observers for the Assam Assembly elections, which are expected to be held in March–April across 126 constituencies. The move is part of the party’s effort to sharpen its organisational strategy against the ruling BJP government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Shivakumar’s elevation to a key election role outside Karnataka has sparked fresh political chatter within his home state, where he is widely regarded as a powerful leader and a potential contender for the chief minister’s post. Known within the Congress as a reliable troubleshooter, his assignment to Assam has been viewed by many as a significant development amid ongoing leadership discussions in Karnataka.
