"Nation comes first and party next": Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra slams Shivakumar for skipping Davos

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 18 (ANI): Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led state government after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar cancelled his official visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF), accusing the leadership of putting party interests above the nation and the state's development.
In a post on X, Vijayendra said the BJP believes that "Nation comes first, and the party next," while alleging that for the Congress, the party always comes before the country.
"We firmly believe that the "Nation comes first, and the party next". For the Congress, however, it is always the party first, with the Nation relegated to the very end. The World Economic Forum at Davos was a golden opportunity to showcase our state as a unique and attractive destination for global investors, an opportunity that could have driven employment generation and promoted industrial growth beyond Bengaluru," Vijayendra wrote.
Targeting the Congress leadership, he said Shivakumar skipped the crucial global platform, citing "pressing engagements" in New Delhi and Bengaluru, at a time when the state needs development and economic revival.
"Yet, the conduct of DCM @DKShivakumar clearly exposes the apathy of the Congress leadership towards governance and their distorted priorities. At a time when the state desperately needs development and economic revival, the DCM chose to skip this crucial global platform, citing "pressing engagements" in New Delhi and Bengaluru," the post read.
Karnataka BJP chief further claimed that several supporters of the DCM had openly spoken about a change in leadership after Sankranti and that Davos had become the "first casualty" of this internal power struggle. He also referred to past protocol lapses, alleging that when the German Chancellor visited Karnataka, neither the Chief Minister nor the Deputy Chief Minister welcomed him.
"One doesn't need much imagination to guess what these "engagements" are. The @INCKarnataka government is at a crossroads, torn apart by an open power struggle between CM @siddaramaiah and DCM @DKShivakumar. Several supporters of the DCM have openly spoken about a change in leadership post-Sankranti, and it now appears that Davos became the first casualty of this internal tug-of-war for power," the post read.
"This pattern of misplaced priorities is not new. When Germany's Chancellor, the head of one of the world's leading economies, visited Karnataka, neither the CM nor the DCM had the courtesy to welcome him or follow basic protocol. Such repeated diplomatic and institutional lapses send a damaging signal to the global community," the post further read.
"In the end, it is Karnataka and its people who pay the price. Jobs are lost, investments move to neighbouring States, and the aspirations of Karnataka's youth are sacrificed at the altar of Congress' infighting, insecurity, and obsession with self-preservation. This government has made its priorities unmistakably clear: not development, not governance, but mere political survival," Vijayendra said, adding that Karnataka deserves leadership that puts the state first.

We firmly believe that the "Nation comes first, and the party next".
For the Congress, however, it is always the party first, with the Nation relegated to the very end.

The World Economic Forum at Davos was a golden opportunity to showcase our state as a unique and attractive… pic.twitter.com/9mHweFUEj9

— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) January 18, 2026

Shivakumar cancelled his official tour to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF). As per a release, the visit was cancelled due to his official engagements in New Delhi and Bengaluru.
The WEF is set to convene its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation.
Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue", Davos 2026 seeks to provide an impartial platform for global leaders from government, business and civil society to reconnect, rebuild trust and explore collaborative solutions to challenges that increasingly transcend borders.
Shivakumar has a series of meetings with All India Congress Committee (AICC) functionaries regarding the Assam Assembly elections and is also spearheading a campaign against the Centre over MNREGA, which has led to a five-day special session of the Karnataka Assembly scheduled to begin from January 22, a release added. (ANI)