Bengaluru: It was the anniversary of the Quit India movement and the cynosure of all eyes at the Congress party event was Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar — who was recently raided by the I-T department soon after he took on himself the onerous task of safeguarding Gujarat Congress MLAs from the poaching attempts of the BJP.
Congress leader Ahmed Patel had just won in a nail biting finish in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls and the credit to a large extent had to go to Mr Shivakumar, who painstakingly ensured that no MLA fell for the temptations offered by the BJP. Source said a grateful Mr Patel called Mr Shivakumar on Wednesday to thank him for facilitating the stay of the 44 Gujarat legislators in a Bengaluru resort for over a week.
A leader close to Mr Shivakumar disclosed that he was elated to receive a call from no less then Mr Patel. "You (Mr Shivakumar) have taken tremendous trouble to safeguard the party's interests. This will not be forgotten easily. We appreciate unflinching loyalty and courage shown even during your toughest hour of crisis," the source said quoting Mr Patel's telephonic conversation.
A resurgent Mr Shivakumar-who had lost out in the race for KPCC president to Dr G. Parameshwar- is delighted that he has got a 'duly signed blank cheque' of goodwill in the party which he can encash whenever he wishes. "After Patel's dramatic win, the party is sure to go the extra length to safeguard his interests whenever he is in need," sources said. Will he make his bid for a top party post or maybe in the government when the time is opportune, is something one will have to wait and watch.
Meanwhile, the minister did his bit trying to play the victim card. "Be it lunar or solar eclipse, these things occur to teach us lessons that all every trouble is momentary," he remarked.
