D.K. Shivakumar celebrates 64th birthday at Tamil Nadu temple, supporters install banners saying 'next CM'

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who celebrated his 64th day connected May 15, undertook a temple sojourn successful Tamil Nadu.

After priests offered peculiar prayers astatine his residence connected Thursday (May 14) morning, Mr. Shivakumar, accompanied by his household members, visited the Murugan temple successful Thoothukudi territory of Tamil Nadu to question the deity’s blessings.

Mr. Shivakumar, who has aspired to go Chief Minister since the Congress triumph successful the 2023 Assembly elections, has been regularly visiting temples crossed Karnataka and different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah extended day greetings to his deputy. “Heartiest day greetings to the Deputy Chief Minister of the State, beloved @DKShivakumar. Your enactment loyalty and ideological committedness are an illustration to the youth. I commune to God to assistance you agelong life, bully health, and spot to fulfil your tendency to service the people,” the Chief Minister posted connected X.

The nationalist greeting, accompanied by a photograph of the 2 leaders together, was seen arsenic reflecting a beardown concern amid the prevailing governmental discussions successful Karnataka.

Raising a banner of support

In Bengaluru, Belagavi, and respective different parts of the State, supporters of Mr. Shivakumar enactment up banners and hoardings wishing him connected his birthday. Some banners successful Belagavi described him arsenic the “Next CM of Karnataka”. Supporters of Mr. Shivakumar celebrated his day by cutting cakes and offering prayers successful temples successful Ballari and Belagavi.

Congress Ballari MP E. Tukaram said the Congress precocious bid would resoluteness the enactment contented successful Karnataka conscionable arsenic it had done successful Kerala, seemingly hinting that Mr. Shivakumar could go Chief Minister soon.

Responding to the installation of banners, Mr. Shivakumar said: “I had warned that banners should not beryllium enactment up, oregon cases would beryllium filed. Even then, supporters installed them retired of admiration. I person personally instructed galore radical and had the banners removed.”

“About 50 banners person been taken down. Putting them up is wrong. I person besides instructed the City Corporation officials to region them immediately. BJP leaders excessively person enactment up banners during visits by their leaders, and those volition besides beryllium removed,” helium added.