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Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar on stage together at an event in Devanagere, Karnataka. This picture is from August 2022.
Siddaramaiah is going to take oath as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. He has also previously been the Chief Minister of the state between 2013 and 2018. The story of his reaching here is full of struggle and interesting. Born in a farming family, Siddaramaiah completed his B Sc and law studies from the University of Mysore.
From the days of college, he started becoming famous for his style of speaking. Seeing his talent, senior advocate Nanjuda Swamy advised him to contest from Mysore Taluka and he won. In the year 1983, contested the first assembly election from Bharatiya Lok Dal party and became MLA. This victory surprised everyone, because he did not have any special political background and he was only 36 years old then.
Became a minister at the age of 38
In 1985 i.e. at the age of only 38, he also got the post of minister. But in 1989 he lost the assembly elections. Making a quick comeback, he became Deputy Chief Minister in 1996 while in the Janata Dal. After this, in 2004, he was again the Deputy Chief Minister in the JDS and Congress governments.
Later, after differences with JDS chief HD Deve Gowda, he was expelled from the party. He contemplated forming his own party, but joined the Congress in 2008. Was the Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018. Siddaramaiah has contested 12 assembly elections in his political career, out of which he has won 9.
Siddaramaiah, who is going to become the new CM of Karnataka, was the Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018.
Influenced by Lohia’s socialism
Siddaramaiah also worked as a junior lawyer for many years. In student life, Siddaramaiah was influenced by the socialism of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. Political opponents also called him an atheist. On which he himself had to give clarification.
He said I am not an atheist. I believe in following religious traditions and rituals. I have also been to Tirupati and Male Mahadeshwara Betta. But I do not go to the Himalayas in search of God. I look at everything from a scientific and religious point of view. Some people present me as anti-religious. Your sins will not be washed away by always indulging in sinful activities and taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam.
Father handed them over to the temple
Siddaramaiah comes from a farming family. It is their village tradition that a family that plows the land for the Siddharameshwara or Shiva temple has to dedicate one of its sons as the temple’s Veera Makklu, or brave children.
That’s why the father handed over Siddaramaiah to the temple. For this reason, Siddaramaiah could not go to school till the age of ten. However, he stayed in the temple and learned folk art for two years. He joined the school in fifth grade. His wife’s name is Parvathi Siddaramaiah. Rakesh was his elder son, who died at the age of 39 due to multiple organ failure in Belgium. Younger son Yatindra is in politics.
Statement and reservation decision against Bommai
Siddaramaiah also comes in the news due to controversies. His government took the controversial decision of recommending religious minority status to Lingayats and Veerashaivas ahead of the 2018 assembly elections. Later, this step of his was considered as one of the reasons for the defeat of his party in the assembly elections.
At the same time, the statement against BJP Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had created a controversy. He said that some Lingayat Chief Minister has always ruined the state due to corruption. Countering this, BJP leaders spoke of insulting the entire Lingayat community. He had to give clarification on this also.
Also read these news related to Karnataka elections…
Congress stakes claim to form government in Karnataka: Swearing-in tomorrow, Siddaramaiah to be CM and DK Deputy CM
Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar went to the Raj Bhavan late on Thursday evening to stake claim to form the government in Karnataka. Both the leaders along with the Congress delegation met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. After which the governor called Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar to take oath. The swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow at 12.30 pm at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Read full news..