In a vibrant mix of celebration and political theatre, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his supporters hosted a grand 'nati koli badoota' or country chicken feast in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The event was billed as marking a historic milestone, despite the fact that the actual record-breaking day is still a few days away.
A Premature Celebration with Political Flavor
The feast, equal parts celebration and friendly chaos, underscored a political truth: sometimes you party first and check the calendar later. Siddaramaiah is poised to surpass the cumulative tenure of former chief minister Devaraj Urs, who served for seven years and 239 days. By combining his earlier term from May 13, 2013, to May 17, 2018 (including caretaker days) with his current stint that began on May 20, 2023, Siddaramaiah's total will reach seven years and 240 days on January 11. Technically, the official record will be his only then.
Interestingly, even the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) appeared to be swept up in the early fervor. When questioned about the exact date, an official acknowledged the technicality but stated they went along with the media frenzy that pinpointed January 7. "Sometimes it's okay to start the party a little early — especially when there's humour, history, and cake involved," the official remarked.
Analysts Unamused, Camaraderie on Display
Political analysts, however, were not impressed by the pre-emptive fanfare. "I thought politics was serious work, but apparently, it's not. They aren't even keeping the record straight — how will they analyse govt data?" commented analyst Vishwas Shetty. Another commentator, MN Patil, described the early celebrations as "unusual but not surprising". He linked it to the persistent pressure from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is seen as mounting a quiet campaign for the top chair.
Despite the underlying tensions, a show of unity was staged in Haveri on Wednesday. At the inauguration of the Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar shared the dais and cut a cake to mark the purported milestone. The celebration, organized by local Congress members, saw Shivakumar feed a piece of cake to the Chief Minister, a gesture that highlighted their public camaraderie amidst intense speculation about a future leadership switch.
Siddaramaiah's Defense and Future Plans
Addressing reporters later, Siddaramaiah asserted that his continuation in politics depends entirely on public support and expressed satisfaction with his government's work. He hit back at the BJP's criticism of his administration's achievements being "zero" and of emptying the state's coffers, accusing the principal opposition party of spreading falsehoods.
He cited key initiatives like the SCP/TSP Act, reservation in promotions, and the Anna Bhagya scheme as hallmarks of his government's work. Earlier in the week, Siddaramaiah had stated that he did not enter politics to break records but expressed confidence in completing a full five-year term. He, however, noted that the final decision rests with the Congress high command. Reacting to these remarks, Deputy CM Shivakumar had simply wished him "good luck".
The week's events, blending feasts, cake, and political statements, have set the stage for a crucial period in Karnataka's politics as Siddaramaiah approaches a personal historic record while navigating the complex dynamics within his own party.
