A Look back at CMs who completed full 5-year term in history of Karnataka

Bengaluru, July 26: It is ironic that B S Yediyurappa, the BJP's 'comeback man' in Karnataka, has never completed a full term in office, despite becoming the Chief Minister four times, surmounting odds.

From the humdrum existence as a government clerk and a hardware store owner to becoming the chief minister four times, Yediyurappa has navigated the choppy waters of politics with the consummate ease of a seasoned oarsman.

Let us now look back at chief ministers of Karnataka who had completed their full term in office

Only three chief ministers -- all from the Congress -- have been able to complete their full five-year term in the history of Karnataka, which saw the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government losing the confidence motion in the Assembly on Tuesday after just 14 months in power.

S Nijalingappa (1962-68), D Devaraja Urs (1972-77) and Siddaramaiah (2013-2018) were the chief ministers who had completed their full term.

No chief minister from the BJP and Kumaraswamy's JD(S) could manage to complete the full term in Karnataka.

In fact, Kumaraswamy's first stint as chief minister in the BJP-led coalition government lasted less than two years from February 2006 to October 2007.

He had disagreement over power sharing with the BJP and refused to support the saffron party-led government in the state.

His second term as chief minister in the Congress-JD(S) government began in May 2018 after a hung verdict in the Assembly election.

In case of the BJP, B S Yeddyurappa became chief minister for the first time in 2007 but remained in office for only seven days after the JD(S) withdrew support and the President's rule was imposed in the state.

In May 2008, Yeddyurappa led the BJP to a historic victory in the state and became chief minister for a second time, but he had to quit in July 2011 due to alleged corruption.

His third stint as chief minister was for only six days from May 17 to May 23 in 2018 as he resigned citing lack of majority.

And finally for exactly two years since July 26, 2019, his fourth tenure.

Since Karnataka was formed in 1956, it has seen 25 chief ministers and maximum of them were from the Congress.