Campaigning & expansion:

 

✔ Why he says he wants to save the Congress party in Karnataka

1. Uniting the party & government
   Shivakumar has repeatedly said his duty is to protect the party and the government. For example:

   “My duty is to save the party and keep the government safe. Apart from this, I have no other duties.”
   The Times of India+1
   He frames this as his central responsibility amid media talk of internal rifts.

2. Leadership stability ahead of upcoming elections
   Karnataka’s INC is in power in the state and facing pressure from opposition parties. By emphasising “saving the party”, Shivakumar signals that he wants the organisation to be strong, unified and ready for future challenges (local body polls, state elections).
   (E.g., his invitation to workers of another party: “the year of Congress in Karnataka”.) The New Indian Express+1

3. Protecting the party brand and its workers
   He also mentions that his duty includes defending and protecting the workers and ensuring internal discipline:

   “My first duty is to protect workers... I am a president who treats everyone as equal.” The News Mill+1
   This suggests that he views organisational cohesion as key to performance.

4. Positioning for greater influence / leadership
   Although he says saving the party is the priority, many analysts also read his statements as part of his broader strategy to strengthen his standing within the party (both in Karnataka and nationally). Articles point out his desire to retain the state Congress president post and not relinquish it easily. The Week

5. Countering opposition and projecting strength
   In a state with strong opposition (especially from Bharatiya Janata Party + regional players), emphasising the survival and revival of Congress sends a message of resilience: that the party intends to fight, stay relevant and govern well.
   He has made statements such as “The Congress flag will fly high in the future in Karnataka.” The New Indian Express

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🧮 What this means in practice

• Focus on grassroots performance: Shivakumar has warned ministers and party workers that non-performance will lead to exclusion. India Today

• Controlling factionalism: By publicly downplaying internal rifts, he attempts to project unity (“There is no rebellion. No personal differences with anyone.”) The News Mill

• Campaigning & expansion: He is making appeals across party lines (e.g., inviting workers from other parties to join) and emphasising development works to bolster the party’s image. The New Indian Express

• Maintaining key posts: His insistence on retaining the state Congress president’s post highlights his effort to remain the organisational anchor of the party in Karnataka. The Week

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🔍 Bigger stakes & context

• The Congress sees Karnataka as one of its important states (governed by them) and losing ground could affect its national narrative.

• Within Karnataka, Shivakumar represents a strong regional leader (especially among certain communities) and his staying power matters for the party’s caste-coalition strategy.

• There are leadership tensions: while Shivakumar emphasises unity and saving the party, other sources point to internal competition (e.g., his role vis-à-vis the Chief Minister, etc.). mint+1