Old video of D.K. Shivakumar falsely linked to campaigning for upcoming Karnataka elections

Context

Amid campaigning gaining full steam ahead of Karnataka's state elections scheduled for May 10, there is a surge in misinformation. A video of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D.K. Shivakumar surrounded by his allies, walking unsteadily and seeming to almost fall is going viral with the claim that he was drunk while campaigning in the state. The post claimed that Shivakumar would be the next chief minister if Congress won the election.

However, this is an old video recirculated with a false narrative. 

In Fact

The video had a "News 1 Kannada" logo on the top left corner and their social media handles at the bottom. We found the video was uploaded by the organization's official YouTube account on January 9, 2022, captioned "DK Shivakumar: ಸುಸ್ತಾಗಿ ತಟ್ಟಾಡಿದ ಡಿಕೆಶಿ | Mekedatu Padayatre | NewsFirst Kannada."

Similarly, on January 10, India Today published an exclusive interview with Shivakumar titled, "Zero Social Distancing In Karnataka Congress Chief'sChief's Padayatra? | DK Shivakumar EXCLUSIVE." At the 7:28 mark, we can see the viral clip, while the location tag on the left corner reads Mekedatu, Karnataka. The video description states Shivakumar told an official, "I am fit and fine. You can't compel me (to give my sample). I know the law of this land. Tell your Home Minister I am perfect." The incident took place after the Congress commenced a 165-km long Padayatra on January 9. Shivakumar had come under criticism for refusing to undergo a COVID-19 test.

Shivakumar had organized the padayatra in January 2022 to persuade both the central and state governments to implement a project that aimed to provide drinking water to Bengaluru Urban and surrounding areas, reported The Times of India. The march, which was planned to last ten days and cover 60 assembly constituencies, had courted controversy as they went against COVID-19 norms. 

While we could not verify if Shivakumar was drunk as alleged on social media, from the above sources, it is clear that the video is not related to the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.

The Verdict

Footage from a padayatra carried out by Congress leader Shivakumar in January 2022 has been falsely shared, alleging he is campaigning while drunk ahead of the 2023 elections.