Siddaramaiah beats D Devaraj Urs, to be Karnataka longest-serving CM

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, January 6, 2026: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to surpass the late D. Devaraj Urs’ record of 7 years and 239 days as Karnataka’s longest-serving chief minister on Wednesday. But the comparison goes beyond tenure. While both leaders symbolize social justice, they represent two distinct eras in Karnataka politics. Siddaramaiah is also the only chief minister after Urs to complete a full five-year term.

Where Urs built a political base among backward classes and Dalits through landmark legislation like the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and reservations, Siddaramaiah has relied on the ‘Ahinda’ coalition of minorities, Dalits, and backward classes, advancing populist schemes and welfare measures.

In the 1970s, the 1974 Land Reforms Act redistributed land to the tiller, empowering landless and marginal farmers while reducing the dominance of traditional landholding communities like Vokkaligas, Lingayats, and Brahmins. Urs also mainstreamed smaller caste groups within the OBC category and promoted new political leadership. His push for reservations in education, employment, and local governance made him a hero among marginalized communities, even as dominant castes felt alienated.

Fast forward to 2025, Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba leader, faces criticism for prioritizing the Ahinda bloc, particularly after the 2018 Lingayat movement seeking a separate religion tag. His confrontations with JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda and current tensions with his deputy D.K. Shivakumar have unsettled Vokkaliga leaders in the Old Mysuru region.

The BJP accuses Siddaramaiah of minority appeasement, citing higher budget allocations to minority communities while allegedly diverting funds meant for SCs and STs. Opposition parties also criticize his populist approach, calling freebies a “burden” on the state exchequer and a hindrance to development. Unlike Urs, who used legislation to reduce social inequalities, Siddaramaiah has focused on income redistribution through state budgets.

In February, Siddaramaiah made another record by presenting his 16th state budget, with an outlay of ₹4.09 lakh crore, including ₹51,000 crore for five flagship welfare schemes: Gruha Lakshmi (stipends to women heads of households), Gruha Jyoti (free electricity up to 200 units per household), Anna Bhagya (free rice for BPL families), Shakti (free bus travel for women), and Yuva Nidhi (stipends for unemployed graduates).

During his first term, Siddaramaiah had launched similar ‘Bhagya’ schemes such as Anna Bhagya (free rice), Ksheera Bhagya (free milk for school children), Krishi Bhagya (farm ponds), Arogya Bhagya (universal health coverage), and Anila Bhagya (free LPG connections). These initiatives helped him, a former JD(S) member who joined Congress in 2007, gain mass appeal and strengthen his leadership within the party.

Amid a power tussle with D.K. Shivakumar over a speculated 50:50 power-sharing pact, Siddaramaiah’s mass appeal as the uncontested Ahinda leader is seen as a major advantage over Shivakumar, whose organisational strength does not match Siddaramaiah’s popularity among the Ahinda base.

On the record-breaking achievement, Siddaramaiah said, “This was possible with the people’s blessings. But don’t compare me with a tall leader like Urs. I am happy he too hailed from Mysuru. I started as a taluk board member and never imagined I would become a chief minister, though I contested 13 elections and won eight.”

The 77-year-old former cowherd from Siddaramanahundi village in Mysuru, who trained as a lawyer before entering politics, added, “Records are meant to be broken, and someday, my records will be broken too.”

JD(S) leader and Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy slammed Siddaramaiah, claiming his record has no “merit.” He said, “Considering the state’s condition, his record deserves to be buried. Karnataka, once known for good governance, is now an example of inefficiency and poor administration. Corruption, murder, extortion, drug mafia activities, and honour killings continue unabated. The Siddaramaiah government is focused on setting records while officers are reduced to slaves. Forget breaking Urs’ record; Siddaramaiah may be the last Congress CM in the state. Voters will teach Congress a lesson.”

Former minister and BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar recalled Urs’ tenure, noting that his land reforms empowered backward classes—a hallmark of his administration. He added, “Siddaramaiah sees himself as a successor to Urs, but there has been no hallmark in his governance. Even the guarantee schemes appear to be the Congress’ initiative. Leaders like Ramakrishna Hegde left a mark with Panchayati Raj reforms, S.M. Krishna with IT and urbanisation. Urs was a Congress-bred leader of political sagacity, while Siddaramaiah came from Janata Dal and held power as LOP and CM in two separate terms for Congress.”