Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar visited the memorial of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday, 20 August, to pay homage on the late leader's birth anniversary. Shivakumar described Rajiv Gandhi as a visionary who shaped political leadership across India and called the visit a 'fundamental duty.'

A Personal Connection to the Memorial

Shivakumar revealed that he has been visiting the Sriperumbudur memorial continuously for the past 15 years. He recalled contributing to the memorial's construction during the tenure of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. 'The monolithic granite pillar installed at this memorial was brought directly from our quarry in Kanakapura,' he said.

The visit was timed alongside the Southern States Chief Ministers' Conference, which brought Shivakumar to the region. He said he made it a deliberate point to stop at Sriperumbudur before attending the conference.

Rajiv Gandhi's Legacy: Youth Empowerment and Ideology

Shivakumar highlighted Rajiv Gandhi's decision to lower the voting age to 18 years as a defining act of faith in India's youth. 'That decision reflected his immense belief in the youth of India. His ideology shaped all of us, and carrying his legacy forward is our sacred responsibility,' he said.

He also noted a longstanding tradition: every year, the 'Rajiv Jyoti' is brought to Sriperumbudur from Karnataka and then carried onwards to Delhi. Shivakumar added that he had previously visited the site alongside Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, before the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

On the Gandhi Family and Congress

Shivakumar underscored the Gandhi family's centrality to the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the nation's political history. 'The strength of the Congress party is the strength of the nation, and the history of Congress is the history of India,' he said. He invoked Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi as leaders who made 'supreme sacrifices' for the country.

On Delimitation and PM Candidacy Speculation

Asked about media speculation projecting Tamil Nadu political leaders as prospective Prime Ministerial candidates, Shivakumar deflected. 'Rather than making political statements, leaders should focus on building the country,' he said. He used the platform to highlight a key demand from the Southern Chief Ministers' Conference: that the upcoming electoral delimitation exercise be based on 1971 Census figures rather than current population metrics — a position backed unanimously by all southern states. The delimitation issue has been a flashpoint between southern states and the Centre, with the south fearing a reduction in parliamentary seats due to lower population growth relative to northern states.

Shivakumar's visit underscores the Congress's continued investment in Rajiv Gandhi's legacy as a unifying symbol, particularly as the party navigates coalition dynamics ahead of future electoral cycles.