Devaraj Urs academy confers honorary doctorate on Siddaramaiah

Mangalore Today News Network

Kolar, Oct 21, 2026: The Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research on Monday conferred an honorary doctorate on former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

G.H. Nagaraj, president of the Devaraj Urs Trust and chancellor of the academy, presented the honour to Siddaramaiah during a function held to mark the academy’s Founders’ Day, the 101st birth anniversary of former minister R.L. Jalappa, and Hospital Day.

The event was organised jointly by the academy and R.L. Jalappa Hospital in Kolar.

In his acceptance speech, Siddaramaiah said he had initially declined the honour, expressing uncertainty over whether he was eligible for it.

He said the academy might have considered him for the recognition because he had presented 17 state budgets and surpassed former chief minister D. Devaraj Urs’ record to become Karnataka’s longest-serving chief minister, having held the post for more than eight years.

Before the event, Siddaramaiah declined to comment to reporters on recent political developments in the state.