Journalism of Courage
Siddaramaiah
INC
DOB
12 Aug 1948
Age
77 years
birth palce
Mysore
profession
Politician
Siddaramaiah biography
Congress leader Siddaramaiah became Karnataka's Chief Minister after his party won 136 out of 224 state assembly seats in May 2023. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar is his Deputy in the state. Siddaramaiah also held that position previously from 2013 to 2018, being only the second person to hold that office for a full five-year term.
Siddaramaiah was born on August 3, 1947 in Mysuru, Karnataka. He is a member of the Kuruba community, which is a Scheduled Tribe in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah studied at the University of Mysore, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.
Siddaramaiah was a member of various Janata Parivar factions before finally joining the Congress in 2006. Under the Janata Party and Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Siddaramaiah was appointed to his first government position in 1983. He became chairman of the erstwhile Kannada Watchdog Committee, to guard the interests of the Kannada language — a task he still considers close to his heart.
In 1996, Siddaramaiah became deputy CM under J H Patel, a post he held again in 2004 in a JD(S)-Congress coalition government. In 2006, however, Deve Gowda sacked him for floating a collective of backward castes, Dalits and minorities in the state called AHINDA, which was viewed as an anti-party activity.
Soon after, Siddaramaiah joined the Congress. In 2006, he won a bypoll from Chamundeshwari seat in his home district of Mysore by a narrow margin of 257 votes, against the combined might of the ruling JD(S)-BJP coalition.
A backward class leader with over five decades of political experience, Siddaramaiah, 75, is considered one of the three remaining mass leaders of Karnataka – alongside former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, 91, of the JD(S) and ex-CM B S Yediyurappa, 80, of the BJP.
As CM holding the Finance portfolio during his 2013-18 tenure, Siddaramaiah had implemented measures such as providing 7 kg of rice to members of BPL homes, setting up canteens selling food at low costs, allotment of substantial funds for free food grains and milk to the poor, and for schemes meant for backward classes, Dalits and minorities. Nearly 24% of the state budget was set aside annually for SC/ST communities.
Siddaramaiah has consciously projected an image of a rustic, down-to-earth politician who identifies with the problems of the downtrodden, including the Dalits.
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Siddaramaiah personal life
Education
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SIDDARAMAIAH NEWS
‘If passed, Karnataka will oppose it’: Siddaramaiah warns Pinarayi Vijayan on Malayalam Language Bill
January 10, 2026 2:47 pm
The Malayalam Language Bill mandates Malayalam as the first language from Classes 1 to 10, even in Kannada-medium schools located in the border areas of Kerala.
'Attack on freedom of language’: Siddaramaiah slams Kerala Bill mandating Malayalam in schools, cites Kannada speakers of Kasaragod
January 09, 2026 5:48 am
CM Siddaramaiah says the border district of Kasaragod emotionally belongs to Karnataka even though it is part of Kerala administratively.
Siddaramaiah is Karnataka’s longest-serving CM: ‘Don’t know how long I will stay’
January 08, 2026 3:44 am
The Karnataka CM’s remark regarding a possible short lived tenure came a day after he himself had expressed the desire to complete a second full five-year term as the CM if the Congress high command takes a decision on that front.
2,792 days later, Siddaramaiah stands on the cusp of history, legacy still in the making
January 07, 2026 7:10 pm
The achievement of the Congress leader, who is set to overtake Devraj Urs as the longest-serving Karnataka CM on Wednesday, comes amid a leadership tussle in the party.
Siddaramaiah vows fast-track trial in honour killing of pregnant woman
January 05, 2026 8:23 am
Twenty-year-old Manya Patil, a pregnant woman from the Lingayat community, was allegedly killed by her relatives in Hubballi taluk on December 21 for marrying a Dalit youth seven months ago.
Dharwad ‘honour’ killing: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah announces fast-track court, new legislation
January 05, 2026 3:46 am
Karnataka reported three cases of honour killing last year.
‘Because polls are coming in Kerala’: Siddaramaiah slams Pinarayi Vijayan for criticising Kogilu eviction drive
December 29, 2025 9:32 pm
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also says eligible people among the evictees in Kogilu near Yelahanka in Bengaluru will be given houses built under the CM One Lakh Housing Scheme.
After Pinarayi’s ‘bulldozer raj’ jibe, Karnataka govt hits back: ‘Don’t comment without facts’
December 28, 2025 4:06 am
Siddaramaiah said the action was necessary against the illegal occupation of government land. In Delhi, Siddaramaiah said that since 2019, people were living unauthorised on a five-acre plot designated for solid waste management.
As Karnataka Congress leadership row drags on, hopes pinned on Delhi meet in January
December 24, 2025 3:36 am
While Mallikarjun Kharge blames the state unit for continued confusion, CM Siddaramaiah, in a pointed remark, says he will abide by Rahul Gandhi’s diktat
With Lokayukta police seeking time to file final report in Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah MUDA case, special court asks for case diary
December 18, 2025 9:46 pm
On October 9, the special court had sought completion in two months of the investigations by the Lokayukta police into the MUDA case.
SIDDARAMAIAH PHOTOS
Karnataka Election Results 2018: Congress offers support to JD(S) to form government
May 15, 2018 5:15 pm
Even though most exit polls predicted a hung assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the government in Karnataka with a simple majority, handing out a severe drubbing to the ruling Congress and relegating the Janata Dal (Secular) to the third spot.
Karnataka elections 2018: High-voltage poll campaigning ends, voting on May 12
May 10, 2018 7:29 pm
The high-pitched election campaign for the Karnataka Assembly polls concluded at 5 pm on May 10 as political parties held multiple rallies in their last attempt to woo voters.
SIDDARAMAIAH VIDEOS
Karnataka election result: How Kumaraswamy's JD(S) managed to consolidate votes from Congress and BJP
June 22, 2020 6:25 pm
How JD(S) consolidated votes from BJP and Congress to emerge the dark horse in the Karnataka assembly election.
Decision 2018: 5 things the Congress missed during its Karnataka election campaign
June 22, 2020 6:25 pm
Decision 2018: Unpacking the BJP's game plan for winning the Karnataka election
May 10, 2018 8:00 am
If the BJP forms the government in Karnataka, this will be its 21st state. But what does it take to get there? How is it being planned? Liz Mathew unpacks the strategy.
Decision 2018: Why Congress' Siddaramaiah is pulling no punches in the battle for Karnataka
June 22, 2020 6:25 pm
This Karnataka election could be a sign of things to come for both the national parties. What is at stake for the Congress? Ravish Tiwari reports.
Historically with Congress, how Karnataka switched to BJP in 2014. Who will win in 2018?
June 22, 2020 6:25 pm
Ravish Tiwari explains how Karnataka is likely to vote in the 2018 assembly elections.
Man throws paper bag at Karnataka CM protesting caste bias
February 21, 2016 2:09 pm
Bengaluru, Feb 21 (ANI): A man threw a paper bag at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during a function at Ravindra Kalakshetra, protesting caste bias on Sunday. The man was arrested immediately after the incident. The security officials present at the spot found that the paper bag was filled with chocolates.
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