Longest-Serving Chief Minister of Karnataka Completing Full 5-Year Term- Meet Siddaramaiah, the Record Breaker

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made history on Wednesday by becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka. He has now spent more days in office than the late Devaraj Urs, who was known for his work on social justice and land reforms.

At 77, Siddaramaiah reached this milestone on January 6 by completing 2,792 days in office, the same number as Urs. Devaraj Urs had served 2,113 days during his first term from March 20, 1972, to December 31, 1977, and another 679 days during his second term from February 28, 1978, to January 7, 1980.

Completing Full 5 Year Term

Siddaramaiah is also the only Chief Minister after Devaraj Urs to complete a full five-year term. His first term lasted from May 13, 2013, to May 15, 2018 - a total of 1,829 days. After returning to power on May 20, 2023, he has served another 963 days so far, making him the longest-serving CM in Karnataka's history.

This achievement comes at a time when the ruling Congress party has completed half of its current five-year term. There has been some speculation about a possible power-sharing deal between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, though nothing official has been confirmed.

Reactions from Leaders and Supporters

Speaking about his record, Siddaramaiah said he never aimed to break any record and credited the people for their support. "I didn't enter politics to set records. It is just a coincidence. I didn't even know how long Devaraj Urs served as CM. It's because of the blessings of the people that I reached this stage," he said in Mysuru.

When asked if he would complete the full five-year term, Siddaramaiah said that the decision lies with the Congress high command.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar congratulated him and wished him "good luck." He dismissed talk of confusion between them, saying, "The media is creating confusion. We don't have any confusion. I wish him all the best."

Across Karnataka, Siddaramaiah's supporters celebrated the occasion with community feasts, including his favorite dish - nati koli (country chicken) to mark this historic moment.