Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has officially entered the record books, becoming the state's longest-serving individual to hold the top office. On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, he surpassed the previous record of 2,792 days set by former Congress Chief Minister Devaraj Urs.
A Historic Milestone Amid Political Speculation
The historic achievement comes at a politically sensitive time for the ruling Congress party. The government recently crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025, leading to intense speculation and internal power tussles regarding a potential change in leadership. Despite the backdrop of uncertainty, Siddaramaiah's tenure has now set a new benchmark in Karnataka's political history.
Marking the occasion at a development event in Haveri, where Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar offered him a cake, the 77-year-old leader reflected on his journey. He attributed his long political career solely to the support of the people. "One has to have the blessings of people to be in politics. With the blessings of the people I have come so far," Siddaramaiah stated. He added, "I don't know how long I will be there (in politics). I have come so far, and will continue in the future too. Will remain in politics until I have the blessings of the people." He expressed satisfaction with his administration's work.
Opposition Reaction and Political Sparring
The milestone did not go unchallenged by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Party leaders swiftly criticized the Chief Minister's record. The BJP accused Siddaramaiah of achieving "zero" and claimed his government had emptied the state's coffers.
Siddaramaiah hit back strongly against these allegations. He labeled BJP leaders as experts in lying and defended his government's legacy. "Who brought the SCP/TSP (Special Component Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan) act? Did they (BJP) do it? Did they provide reservation in promotions? Who gave Anna Bhagya scheme?" he countered, listing key welfare initiatives. He challenged the BJP to ask the public about his government's work.
Yediyurappa's Sharp Critique
However, the most pointed criticism came from BJP veteran and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. He directly contested the comparison between Siddaramaiah and the late Devaraj Urs, whose record was broken. "Things cannot be compared with Devaraj Urs, who had done good work. His administrative style was different from his (Siddaramaiah's)," Yediyurappa asserted.
He further alleged that the current government is mired in corruption, which he claimed would make the public dismissive of such "big achievement" claims. Shifting focus to the future, Yediyurappa expressed confidence in the BJP's prospects, stating, "Our workers are working with enthusiasm, and you will see in the days to come, how we will win in the local body polls."
The record-breaking day, therefore, was not just a celebration of longevity but also a flashpoint for the ongoing political rivalry in Karnataka, setting the stage for the upcoming electoral battles at the local level.
