Bengaluru: Just past the halfway mark in his second stint as chief minister Siddaramaiah is at the crossroads, facing perhaps his sternest test in an enduring political journey — a rarity in Karnataka’s often turbulent coalition govts. Spanning more than four decades, Siddaramaiah has essayed a range of roles — from twice serving as chief minister to handling meaty portfolios under other chief ministers, leading the opposition in the state assembly, and presenting multiple state budgets. This breadth and consistency give him a cumulative edge over most of his contemporaries. Mallikarjun Kharge, one of Karnataka Congress’s most seasoned functionaries, has had an equally long but more peripatetic career. First elected to the state assembly in 1972, Kharge won nine consecutive elections until 2008, earning the nickname ‘Solillada Sardara’ (the undefeated chieftain). He held important portfolios including home, revenue, rural development, cooperation, and infrastructure, and twice served as leader of the opposition. Kharge then moved to national politics and became an MP in 2009. He served as Union minister and led Congress in the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019. He is now a Rajya Sabha member. Yet, Kharge never became chief minister — a post Siddaramaiah has held twice despite not originally being from Congress. Analysts say this reflects Siddaramaiah’s advantage in combining longevity with executive leadership. He completed a full five-year term from 2013 to 2018 and returned to office in 2023. “Siddaramaiah’s longevity is unusual for Karnataka, where political instability has been the norm,” said Prof Ravindra Reshme. “He is ahead of most of his peers in total years spent in formal power — be it in governing or opposition. His ability to return to office after a full term strengthens that argument.” Vishwas Shetty, another analyst, said: “Political power in Karnataka has often been episodic, with functionaries coming and going due to coalition breakdowns or internal dissent. Siddaramaiah’s sustained presence across decades, in multiple roles, shows not just access to office but enduring influence.” A comparison with other state political stalwarts such as HD Deve Gowda, BS Yediyurappa, HD Kumaraswamy, and DK Shivakumar add to his uniqueness. Yediyurappa, sworn in four times as CM, never completed a full term; Kumaraswamy’s coalition stints lasted mere months; Deve Gowda moved quickly to national politics after a brief stint as CM; and Shivakumar has not held the chief minister’s post. “It is not just about occupying the top-most spot,” said a senior Congress functionary. “It is about continuity, influence, and sustained visibility in decision-making. Siddaramaiah has been part of every major political phase in the state for four decades. That is not the case with others, whose stints were often cut short or have been unlucky.”
