Last Updated:
Shivakumar downplays HC Mahadevappa’s “tail cannot shake the dog” remark, deferring leadership issues to the High Command.
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. (Image: News18)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday reacted to Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa’s “tail cannot shake the dog” remark, calling him a “big man.”
Shivakumar’s remarks follow a series of cryptic statements from Mahadevappa regarding the state’s leadership stability, which have triggered fresh speculation about a power-sharing pact between the Chief Minister and his deputy.
Speaking to reporters at the State Election Commission on Bellary Road, Shivakumar sought to downplay the friction while maintaining a firm boundary regarding the controversial analogy. “HC Mahadevappa is a big man and now he is also part of the High Command. I don’t want to talk about it; the party will decide on this,” Shivakumar stated, effectively deferring the controversy to the AICC.
When pressed on Mahadevappa’s specific comments—where the Minister had suggested the “tail cannot shake the dog” in reference to leadership—Shivakumar remained resolute, saying, “I am not ready to respond to Mahadevappa and others for their statements. As stated earlier, leadership issue is a matter to be decided by the High Command, Siddaramaiah, and me.”
The Deputy Chief Minister was particularly emphatic about the transparency of his relationship with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, dismissing any notion of backroom maneuvering or hidden agendas. “This is not a secretive deal. There are no secret talks between Siddaramaiah and me,” he asserted. “Siddaramaiah himself will send out a message to the people of the state when the time comes. You will know about the decision then.”
Adding a layer to the linguistic battle, BAMUL President DK Suresh offered a vigorous defence of party loyalists from his Sadashivanagar residence, reclaiming the dog metaphor as a badge of honor. “A dog is a symbol of loyalty. Staunch Congressmen are the loyal dogs who remember the debt of their master and work to repay it,” Suresh told the media.
When asked if those who joined the party from outside were being branded as “stray dogs,” Suresh clarified, “I didn’t say that. Whether they are stray dogs or pets, they repay their master’s debt. That is the nature of loyalty. People keep dogs for their faithfulness, and even a stray dog is fed because it shows gratitude.”
February 18, 2026, 14:59 IST
Read More
