Bengaluru: Even as top Congress leaders described raids by officers of Income Tax department on the office and residences of energy minister D.K. Shivakumar as an act of political vendetta, insiders felt the raids could well prove a god send for the Vokkaliga poster boy of the party to enhance his clout with party president Sonia Gandhi and gain the sympathy of voters belonging to his community in Old Mysuru region.
Sources in the party said Mr Shivakumar, who fell out of favour with Mrs Gandhi and other leaders earlier, managed to regain his proximity thanks to his organizational skills and ability to mop up resources for the party ahead of elections in northern states.
He, however, lost the race for KPCC president’s post when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted himself on the choice of a candidate for the top post. Today’s raids and the fact that he volunteered to host 44 party legislators from Gujarat in an effort to ensure the victory of Mr Ahmed Patel in Rajya Sabha polls on August 8 would boost his image and clout within the party. "The party has become very weak at the national level. At this juncture, he took the risk to host our party MLAs from Gujarat when others were dithering. So Mr Shivakumar will gain more bargaining power in New Delhi.”
