BENGALURU: Chief minister Siddaramaiah and his supporters threw a mega ‘nati koli badoota’ (country chicken feast) Tuesday, marking what they called a historic milestone, even though political experts insist the record-breaking day — when he will overtake Devaraj Urs as the longest serving CM — is still days away.The occasion was equal parts celebration and friendly chaos, proving that in politics, sometimes you party first and check the calendar later.
Siddaramaiah, who has served a total of seven years and 236 days when combining his earlier term (May 13, 2013 – May 17, 2018, including days as a caretaker CM) with his current stint (May 20, 2023 – Jan 7, 2026), is poised to surpass Urs’ cumulative tenure of seven years and 239 days on Jan 11. Technically, the official record will be his then — but early festivities show that precision is not always a prerequisite for celebration.
Interestingly, even the CMO seemed to be caught off-guard. Asked about the exact date, an official said, “Yes, we know technically the record is next week, but we went with the media frenzy which came up with Jan 7. Sometimes it’s okay to start the party a little early — especially when there’s humour, history, and cake involved.”Political analysts were not amused by the pre-emptive fanfare. “I thought politics was serious work, but apparently, it’s not. They aren’t even keeping the record straight — how will they analyse govt data?” remarked Vishwas Shetty.Political commentator MN Patil said the early celebrations are “unusual but not surprising,” given the pressure deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar is mounting on Siddaramaiah to eventually hand over the chair.In Haveri Wednesday, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar shared the dais and cut a cake during the inauguration of the Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences, as Congress members marked Siddaramaiah’s milestone as the longest-serving chief minister of Karnataka.The celebration, organised by local Congress members, saw Shivakumar cut the cake and feed Siddaramaiah, a gesture that drew attention at the event and highlighted the show of camaraderie between the two amid speculation of a switch at the top.Siddaramaiah later told reporters his continuation in politics depended entirely on public support and expressed satisfaction with the functioning of his govt.Responding to BJP’s criticism that his achievements were “zero” and that his govt had emptied the state’s coffers, Siddaramaiah accused the principal opposition party of spreading falsehoods. He cited measures such as the SCP/TSP Act, reservation in promotions and the Anna Bhagya scheme as key initiatives of his govt.Earlier this week, Siddaramaiah said that he did not enter politics to break records and expressed confidence on completing a full five-year term, while noting that the final decision rests with the Congress high command. Reacting to his remarks, Shivakumar had wished him ” good luck”.
About the Author
