Siddaramaiah Approaches Milestone as Karnataka's Longest-Serving Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah's Ambition to Break Record
Nearly a year ago, Siddaramaiah expressed his desire to become the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka during an interview with a Kannada television channel.
Facing Internal Party Challenges
Amidst speculation about tensions with his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah is on the verge of surpassing the record set by D. Devaraj Urs, Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister, who was also a prominent leader from the backward community.
Celebration Plans for the Milestone
To commemorate this achievement, a Nati Koli Uta (traditional chicken feast) is scheduled for January 6 in Bengaluru, as Siddaramaiah is set to become the state's longest-serving Chief Minister. The grand arrangements are being organized by 'Ahinda,' a political term coined by Urs that represents minorities, backward communities, and Dalits.
Comparing Tenures and Political Journeys
Siddaramaiah is chasing Urs's record, which stands at 2,792 days over two terms, equating to approximately 7.6 years. The comparison between Siddaramaiah and Urs extends beyond their tenures, as both leaders share significant similarities in their political journeys and community outreach.
Urs's Impact on Karnataka's Political Landscape
Urs was the first Chief Minister after the renaming of Mysore State to Karnataka in 1973. Before his tenure, the state's political leadership was dominated by the upper-caste Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities. As a member of the Arasu community, Urs marked a significant shift in Karnataka's political landscape by becoming the first Chief Minister from a backward community.
Urs's Policies for Community Upliftment
Described as a leader for backward and minority communities, Urs implemented policies aimed at uplifting these groups and encouraged their political participation. Following Urs, several Chief Ministers emerged from backward communities, including S. Bangarappa, M. Veerappa Moily, and Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah's Revival of Ahinda Politics
As a member of the Kuruba Gowda community, which had a population of 4,372,847 according to the 2011 socio-economic and caste census, Siddaramaiah has sought to revive Urs's Ahinda politics. He is recognized as a voice for backward and minority communities in contemporary Karnataka politics.
Challenging Political Dominance
Like Urs, Siddaramaiah has also challenged the political dominance of the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities in Karnataka. His rise became more pronounced after the BJP and JD(S) coalition in 2006, which allowed leaders from these communities to reclaim the Chief Minister's position. Siddaramaiah first took office as Chief Minister in 2013.
Congress's Political Dynamics
After the 2018 assembly elections, Congress returned to power as a junior coalition partner with JD(S), but the Chief Minister's position was given to H.D. Kumaraswamy. This coalition did not last long due to defections from Congress to BJP.
Handling Internal Party Conflicts
Both Urs and Siddaramaiah have dealt with internal party conflicts involving major national leaders. Urs faced a confrontation with then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi over the imposition of Emergency in 1975, which led to his expulsion from Congress in 1979.
Siddaramaiah's Political History
Siddaramaiah has a political history with JD(S) under the leadership of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Their collaboration strengthened JD(S) as a regional power, but differences arose in 2005 when Siddaramaiah served as Deputy Chief Minister in the JD(S)-Congress government.
The Fallout of Power-Sharing Agreements
The rotational power-sharing agreement between the two parties did not guarantee Siddaramaiah the Chief Minister's position, prompting him to strengthen his Ahinda support. After being asked to resign from the Deputy Chief Minister role, Siddaramaiah claimed he was expelled from JD(S) by Deve Gowda and joined Congress in 2006.
Electoral Successes Under Their Leadership
Under the leadership of both Urs and Siddaramaiah, Congress achieved significant electoral victories in Karnataka. The Congress led by Urs won 165 out of 216 seats in the 1972 assembly elections, securing a 52.17% vote share.
Siddaramaiah's Recent Electoral Victory
In the 2023 assembly elections, Congress, under Siddaramaiah's leadership, won 135 out of 224 seats, gaining a majority with a 42.88% vote share. This marked the party's most decisive victory in Karnataka in 34 years. Another similarity between Urs and Siddaramaiah is their political acumen; both have been part of Congress and Janata Party. While Urs completed two terms as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah is currently serving his second term.
Strengthening Political Support
Both leaders have demonstrated the ability to garner substantial public support, further solidifying their positions within the party and state politics.
A Week Away from a Historic Achievement
With just a week remaining, Siddaramaiah is poised to cement his legacy as Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister, surpassing Devaraj Urs.