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
Graduate
SIDDARAMAIAH NEWS
Siddaramaiah meets Rahul Gandhi amid Karnataka Cabinet rejig buzz
November 16, 2025 4:05 am
Siddaramaiah, accompanied by Energy Minister KJ George had a 30-minute discussion with Gandhi at former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi’s residence, sources said.
Karnataka mulls museum to fulfil last wish of environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka who died at 114; funeral today with state honours
November 15, 2025 2:11 pm
Saalumarada Thimmakka, known as the 'Tree Woman of India', was the recipient of many awards, including the Padma Shri award in 2019 for her afforestation efforts.
After hinting at Karnataka Cabinet expansion, Siddaramaiah says he has sought time with Rahul Gandhi
November 11, 2025 5:45 pm
Meanwhile, Congress sources said talks on the Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle are likely to be held after the Bihar Assembly election results on November 14.
Bengaluru police register case over AI-generated clip of DK Shivakumar pushing Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
November 08, 2025 2:13 pm
According to the police complaint, the AI-generated video was created with the intention of harming the images of D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, besides embarrassing the Karnataka government.
Karnataka HC rejects Siddaramaiah Govt's appeal against stay on curbing assembly in public spaces in Bengaluru
November 06, 2025 1:20 pm
The court had earlier ordered a stay on the Siddaramaiah government's order that restricted any unauthorised assembly of 10 or more people in a government-owned space like roads, parks, etc.
‘Constant drilling will destroy Western Ghats,’ Medha Patkar warns Karnataka Govt over Honnavar port project
November 05, 2025 7:02 pm
While releasing a fact-finding report titled ‘Eroding Shores, Silenced Protests’ on the Honnavar port project, Medha Patkar says Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised to look into the matter.
After 50 years, Karnataka Police constables to wear new caps; Siddaramaiah says need for a change in performance and duties
October 29, 2025 10:48 am
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said during the British era, police personnel wore slouch hats, but after Independence, they wore turbans.
Siddaramaiah says he’ll be CM for 5 years if Congress high command wills it
October 27, 2025 7:37 pm
Asked about his inching towards becoming the longest-serving chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said he did not believe in creating records.
Expedite industry clearances to make the state attractive for investments: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah tells officials
October 24, 2025 9:54 pm
Karnataka faces stiff competition in the industrial sector from Gujarat, Telangana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh, says Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil.
'Will stake claim for CM post after the 2028 polls'
October 24, 2025 9:47 am
Yathindra wanted me to succeed Siddaramaiah as ‘Ahinda leader’ not as CM, says Jarkiholi
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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