Bengaluru: Chief minister DK Shivakumar appears to be steering Karnataka towards a more pragmatic relationship with the Narendra Modi-led Union govt, replacing political confrontation with cooperative engagement to secure central funding and approvals for key infrastructure and irrigation projects.The shift was evident during his recent meetings in New Delhi with Modi, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, other Union ministers and Karnataka MPs, where he sought central support for projects worth more than Rs 30,000 crore. Shivakumar later described the interactions as a “success” and that Karnataka had presented a united case for the state’s development.Senior officials said his approach marked a clear departure from the previous administration’s confrontational stand on Centre-state relations. “In fact, at the MPs’ meeting, the mood was more conciliatory than previous years when it turned acrimonious,” a senior official said.Officials say Shivakumar affirmed Karnataka is willing to comply with the Centre’s terms for jointly funded and centrally sponsored schemes if financial assistance is released. “If the Centre does consider the demand for more than Rs 30,000 crore, it would be a major victory for Shivakumar’s administrative capabilities,” an official said.But officials stressed the outcome would depend on the Centre’s response. “While we expect the tone and tenor of the CM to work with central ministers, how much is realised is yet to be seen,” the official added.Karnataka is banking on central approvals and funding for several marquee projects, including Bengaluru’s tunnel road network, Metro Phase 3 and 3A, suburban rail expansion, regional rapid transit corridors, the Satellite Township Ring Road, Mumbai-Bengaluru high-speed rail corridor and the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir.Shivakumar’s economic adviser and former additional chief secretary (finance) LK Atheeq said Karnataka was seeking only what it is legitimately entitled to. “Some of the demands which we presented to Union ministers and our MPs is completely funded by the Centre,” Atheeq said. He said projects such as the Satellite Township Ring Road and the Mumbai-Bengaluru high-speed rail corridor could receive central funding without delay.
