D. K. Shivakumar Age, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Full name	Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar
Nickname(s)	• D. K. Shi • DKS • Kanakapura Rock • Congress' Man Friday • The Tiger of Santhur
Profession(s)	• Politician • Social Worker • Agriculturalist • Educationist
Famous for	Eight-time MLA & one of the richest politicians in India
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5' 10" (178 cm)
Eye Colour	Salt and Pepper
Hair Colour	Dark Brown
Politics
Political Party	Indian National Congress (INC)
Political Journey	• D.K Shivakumar began his political career in the early 1980s as a student leader. • In 1989, at the age of 27, he won his first election to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Sathanur constituency in Mysuru district. • He served as Karnataka's Minister of Prisons and Homeguards from 17 October 1990 to 19 November 1992. • Shivakumar was re-elected from the same constituency in the subsequent assembly elections held in 1994, 1999, and 2004. • He served as Karnataka's Minister of Urban Development from 11 October 1999 to 20 May 2004. • In 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023 assembly elections, he won from the Kanakapura constituency. • He was the KPCC (Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee) Working President from 2008 to 2010. • He was Karnataka's Minister of Energy from 11 July 2014 to 19 May 2018. • He was Karnataka's Minister of Major Irrigation and Medical Education from 23 May 2018 to 23 July 2019. • He became the KPCC President on 2 July 2020. • On 20 May 2023, he was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. [1]The Hindu
Personal Life
Date of Birth	15 May 1962 (Tuesday)
Age (as of 2024)	62 Years
Birthplace	Kanakapura, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Zodiac sign	Taurus
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Bengaluru, Karnataka
School	National Public School, Bengaluru
College/University	• RC College in Bengaluru • Karnataka State Open University, Mysore
Educational Qualification	In 2006, D.K Shivakumar completed a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Karnataka State Open University, situated in Mysore. [2]MyNeta
Religion	Hinduism [3]Hindustan Times
Caste	Vokkaliga [4]Hindustan Times
Tattoo(s)	On the right elbow
Controversies	• Illegal Mining Charges [5]The Hindu Shivakumar and his family have been accused of being involved in various unlawful activities, including illegal mining, transporting granite without proper authorization, and improper distribution of land. In 2015, the Karnataka High Court sent notices to Shivakumar and his family members regarding their alleged participation in illegal mining operations in the Kanakapura and Ramanagaram districts of Karnataka. Furthermore, Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh have faced allegations of encroaching upon 66 acres of land that was designated for the betterment of Dalits and economically disadvantaged individuals. • Raided by Income Tax Dept [6]The Hindu on 2 August 2017, the Income Tax Department conducted raids at Shivakumar's Bengaluru residence and office over suspected tax-related issues. Notably, the authorities also carried out searches at Eagleton Golf Resort in Bidadi, owned by Shivakumar's brother. The raids were conducted across multiple cities, including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chennai, and Kanakapura, with the involvement of around 300 officials. Over a span of 80 hours, these extensive search operations covered 67 locations. Substantial amounts of ₹8 crore were seized from Shivakumar's Delhi residence, along with ₹2 crore from undisclosed sources. The raids were reportedly linked to the stay of Congress party members at the resort, following the defection of some legislators to the Bharatiya Janata Party. On 3 September 2019, Shivakumar was arrested on charges of tax evasion, claiming his arrest to be politically motivated by the then Karnataka BJP government. • Bribe allegations in sex tapes case On 17 May 2024, BJP leader G Devaraje Gowda claimed that DK Shivakumar tried to bribe him with Rs. 100 crore to make false claims against HD Kumaraswamy in the sex scandal case. According to Gowda the reported video clips of the sex scandal were circulated after DK Shivakumar obtained the pen drive containing explicit videos, allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna, from Revanna's former driver Karthik Gowda. [7]India Today
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	Year: 1993
Family
Wife/Spouse	Usha Shivakumar
Children	Son- One (Aakash Shivakumar) Daughter- Two • Aishwarya • Aabharana
Parents	Father- D. K. Kempegowda (died on 31 December 2013) Mother- Gouramma
Siblings	Brother- D. K. Suresh Sister- Manjula Shantachandra
Style Quotient
Car Collection	Toyota Qualis
Expensive Things/Valuables	Rolex and Hublot Watch
Money Factor
Income (approx.)	Rs 14 crores Note: The income is for the year 2022. It excludes the income of his wife and dependents (minor). [8]MyNeta
Assets/Properties	Movable Assets Cash: Rs. 4,85,843 Bank Deposits: Rs. 14,67,73,028 Motor Vehicles: Rs. 8,35,026 Jewellery: Rs. 1,47,84,014 Other Assets (Rolex & Hublot watch): Rs. 32,90,246 Immovable Assets Agricultural Land: Rs. 25,50,00,000 Non-Agricultural Land: Rs. 57,50,00,000 Commercial Buildings: Rs. 8,52,36,47,685 Residential Buildings: Rs. 19,10,00,000 Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2022. It excludes the assets owned by his wife and dependents (minor). [9]MyNeta
Net Worth (approx.)	Rs 1414 crores Note: The net worth is according to the financial year 2022-23. It excludes the net worth of his wife and dependents (minor). [10]MyNeta In July 2023, he was reported to be the richest MLA is the country. [11]NDTV

Some Lesser Known Facts About D. K. Shivakumar

• D. K. Shivakumar, a Congress leader in Karnataka, held key positions within the party, including KPCC President. He served as an MLA and held ministerial roles in the Karnataka government. With eight terms as MLA, he is known as one of India’s wealthiest politicians.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar has a political career of more than 3 decades

• He studied at National Public School in Bengaluru till 8th standard, after which he was suspended from the school due to his poor academic performance.

• During his time at RC College in Bengaluru, D. K. Shivakumar made the decision to pursue a career in politics. He chose to drop out of college and became a part of the Youth Congress, the youth wing of the Congress party. From 1983 to 1985, he held the position of General Secretary of the Karnataka State Youth Congress.

• At the age of 27, D. K. Shivakumar secured his first electoral victory in 1989. He was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Sathanur constituency, located in Mysuru district. Running as a candidate of the Congress party, Shivakumar emerged triumphant in the election, marking the beginning of his political career.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar has often spearheaded Congress campaigns in Karnataka

• In 2002, D. K. Shivakumar’s leadership skills came to the forefront when Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from the Congress party, faced a no-confidence motion. Shivakumar orchestrated a strategic move by gathering all the Congress legislators at a resort in Bengaluru for a week.

• After ensuring their safety, he successfully facilitated their return to Mumbai, where Deshmukh ultimately won the trust vote. Shivakumar’s role in this event showcased his effective leadership and organizational abilities.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar with the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Singh Gehlot

• He provided assistance to his party’s leadership just before the Rajya Sabha elections in 2017 from Gujarat. He played a crucial role by accommodating 42 Gujarat Congress MLAs at his resort in Bengaluru. This strategic move was aimed at preventing the MLAs from joining another political party. As a result, Ahmed Patel, a member of the Congress party, emerged victorious in the election with the support of these MLAs.

• After the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections, D. K. Shivakumar played a pivotal role in the formation of a coalition government in Karnataka between the Indian National Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) parties.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar is one of the most prominent members of the Karnataka Congress

• As the vote count results of the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Elections revealed a major triumph for his party, he became overwhelmed with emotions. He shared that he had made a commitment to Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party leader, to ensure a victory in Karnataka.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar (third from right) when Congress released its manifesto for the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections

• He also recalled his promise to Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge. He also reminisced about Sonia Gandhi’s visit to him during his time in jail, reflecting on their enduring bond.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar is a close confidante of the Gandhi family and supported Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra

• Addressing the media, D. K. Shivakumar emphasized the importance of the Congress office, describing it as a sacred place for the party. He emphasized that crucial decisions regarding their future actions would be made within the premises of the Congress office.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar with Mallikarjun Kharge and Randeep Surjewala after Congress won the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections

• Among the 224 seats in the Karnataka Assembly, the Congress party emerged victorious by securing 135 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 66 seats, while the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) secured 19 seats. Additionally, independent candidates managed to secure 4 seats.
  

  D. K. Shivakumar receiving his winning certificate in the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Elections

• He has made investments in cooperative banks, educational institutions, agricultural lands, and flats across different locations including Mysuru, Mumbai, Kanakapura, Bangalore, and Delhi. His property investments include holdings in companies such as Shobha Developers, Davanam Properties, Kabini Granites, Dalmia Cement, and more.

• He holds a strong belief in numerology and has a special affinity for the number 6. According to him, this number is governed by the planet Venus and possesses the ability to attract power.

• According to reports, during his early days in politics, D. K. Shivakumar was associated with Bengaluru gangster Ramachandra Kotwal, who acted as his mentor.

• In 2023, while he was invited as a guest at the talk show ‘Weekend with Ramesh,’ his eldest daughter Aishwarya talked about how she used to visit her father when he was in jail. She explained that she came up with a plan to disguise herself as a news reporter and changed her appearance by getting a bob haircut. At first, she wasn’t allowed to see her father, but she got an opportunity when the judge said that family members could talk to D K Shivkumar for 15 minutes while he was being taken to court. Aishwarya said,
  

  Even though I was present there, I was not allowed to meet my father as the authorities failed to recognise me in disguise. However, they did give me a chance and said that only if my father recognises me, I would be given a permission to meet him. Eventually, my father recognised me and then I had fifteen minutes to speak with him. It was much needed by me and henceforth, I had the courage to face everything that came my way and looked after the family members.”