Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP) 

Bengaluru, Oct 29: Some leaders within the Congress are unhappy at the fact that former minister, D K Shivakumar, had held the JD(S) flag after his arrival in the city after securing conditional bail in money laundering case. 

On Saturday, on arrival from New Delhi, Shivakumar had reached the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in a procession. When some JD(S) leaders met him the next day, he was seen holding the flag of that party when standing with some legislators of that party. A number of leaders are understood have taken exception to this. 

Since the coalition government came to power, Shivakumar, who was arch rival of both Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy, had changed his attitude towards them and worked closely with them. On Sunday October 28, he was seen in the company of JD(S) leaders with their flag in hand. Many from the Congress party feel that it was inappropriate for him to hold the flag of a party, having been a leader of a national party. 

Shivakumar, who came to know about the objections, has requested people not to misunderstand him. He clarified that many people had extended warm welcome to him on his arrival here, and the JD(S) legislators had visited him at his home to wish him. He wondered how he could send them back. 

Some say that Shivakumar would have held the flag of the JD(S) to project himself as a Vokkaliga leader, as the Vokkaliga community had unitedly backed him when he was imprisoned recently. In his home district, Ramanagara, Vokkaligas dominate the electorate. Some feel that he would have held the flag aloft to prove that his relationship with the community is thriving. This move might also help him to get more backing, it is said.