A dream come true for Siddaramaiah as he gets picked for a second term as Karnataka’s Chief Minister

The elevation of 75-year-old Siddaramaiah as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, prior to him being sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka, is a dream come true for the veteran politician who had set his eyes on the coveted position for a second term, after a gap of five years. This comes after a bitter contestation for the top post between him and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar.

The elevation of 75-year-old Siddaramaiah as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, prior to him being sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka, is a dream come true for the veteran politician who had set his eyes on the coveted position for a second term, after a gap of five years. This comes after a bitter contestation for the top post between him and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar.

Mr. Siddarmaiah will be sworn-in on May 20 in Bengaluru, making him the 24 th Chief Minister of the State. He takes charge at a time when the people of Karnataka are looking forward to a stable and credible government.

Along with Mr. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is considered as one of the architects of the Congress’ victory in the 2023 Assembly elections wherein the party won 135 seats, the highest number of seats after 1989.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who has been a member of the Legislative Assembly eight terms since 1983, although not consecutively, has served in various capacities in successive governments of the Janata Dal, including as Deputy Chief Minister in the J.H. Patel government in 1996, and N Dharam Singh government in 2004, as well as the Chief Minister during 2013-18 Congress government.

Mr. Siddaramaiah was disappointed with the Janata Dal (Secular) — headed by its leader Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda — when he was denied the chief minister’s post and preferred N. Dharam Singh of the Congress to the top job in the formation of the first JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the State in 2004.

In 2006, Mr. Siddaramaiah quit the JD(S) and joined the Congress along with his followers after serving a brief stint as Deputy Chief Minister in the Dharam Singh government. After his exit from the JD(S), Mr. Siddaramaiah was associated with the AHINDA, a movement championing the cause of backward classes, minorities and Dalits.

Then, in 2006, AICC president Sonia Gandhi arrived in Bengaluru and welcomed Mr. Siddaramaiah to the Congress at a huge public meeting in Bengaluru, offering a clear indication of the popularity that he enjoyed in the party.