Siddaramaiah equals Devaraj Urs' record as Karnataka's longest-serving CM: 'Confident of completing full term'

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has equalled the record as longest serving chief minister of the state. (File: PTI)

• Siddaramaiah matches Devaraj Urs as Karnataka's longest-serving chief minister.
• He will surpass Urs' milestone of 2,792 days in office on January 7
• Speculation over leadership change persists within the ruling Congress

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday equalled the record of social justice icon Devaraj Urs as the longest-serving chief minister of the state. Siddaramaiah achieved the milestone amid continuing speculation over leadership change within the ruling Congress.

Siddaramaiah completed 2,792 days in office across two tenures on January 6 and is set to surpass Urs' record on January 7. However, the chief minister maintained that whether he completes the full five-year term will ultimately be decided by the Congress high command.

"I have not done politics to break any record; it is only a coincidence. I did not even know how many years and days Devaraj Urs served as CM," Siddaramaiah told reporters. "Because of the blessings of the people, I have got an opportunity to equal his record. Tomorrow it will be broken."

Asked if he was confident of completing the full term, Siddaramaiah said, "I have confidence. If I had no confidence, how would I have been the Chief Minister? But it all depends on the high command's decision."

The milestone comes at a politically sensitive moment for the Congress government, which crossed the halfway mark of its five-year tenure on November 20. Speculation over a leadership change has persisted since the formation of the government in 2023, when a "power-sharing" understanding between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar became public.

Despite the internal churn, Siddaramaiah struck a calm note, insisting that he has not been summoned yet for any discussion on leadership or a cabinet reshuffle.

Responding to queries about his meeting with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal in Mysuru on Monday, Siddaramaiah said the interaction was incidental. "He was travelling from Wayanad to Bengaluru via Mysuru, and since both of us were here, we met. There was no discussion on cabinet reshuffle," he said, adding that he would discuss the matter "whenever the high command calls".

Devaraj Urs, regarded as a transformative leader in Karnataka's political history for his land reforms and social justice agenda, served as chief minister for 2,113 days between March 1972 and December 1977, and 679 days during his second term from February 1978 to January 1980.

Siddaramaiah, the only chief minister after Urs to complete a full five-year term, served 1,829 days during his first tenure from May 2013 to May 2018. Since returning to office on May 20, 2023, he has completed 963 days so far.

Reflecting on his political journey, Siddaramaiah said he had never imagined reaching such milestones. "The maximum I had thought of was becoming an MLA once. I became MLA, then minister, deputy chief minister, leader of opposition, and chief minister. I got opportunities, and I performed my duties," he said.

Noting that both Urs and he hail from the Mysuru region, Siddaramaiah said the comparison spanned different eras. "He was CM from 1972 to 1980. I have served in two terms — from 2013 to 2018 and from 2023 till now. Whatever the high command decides, I will accept," he said, adding that his long political career has given him "satisfaction” because of the opportunity to serve marginalised communities.

"Politics means doing justice for the poor, Dalits and backward classes. Until inequality is eliminated and everyone gets social justice, my fight will continue," he said.

Supporters marked the occasion with celebrations across parts of the state, organising community feasts featuring Siddaramaiah's favourite dish, nati koli (country chicken). Reacting with amusement, the chief minister said, "I don't know who organised it. I am from a village, and eating nati koli and ragi mudde was normal for us. Now that I am chief minister, it is getting publicity."

(With PTI inputs)