Bengaluru, Jan 08, 2026 – Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday became Karnataka’s longest-serving chief minister, surpassing the record held by former leader D. Devaraj Urs, with a cumulative tenure of seven years and 240 days across two terms. Reflecting on his milestone, Siddaramaiah likened the achievement to Virat Kohli breaking records once set by Sachin Tendulkar, emphasizing that “records are meant to be broken.”

The journey from local politics to the state’s top office mirrors the trajectory of Urs, whose tenure left an indelible mark on Karnataka’s political landscape. Nearly fifty years ago, in 1978, Siddaramaiah’s political ambition was modest: he wanted to be a member of the Mysuru Taluk Board. Two years after Urs’ second term ended, Siddaramaiah entered the legislative assembly on a Bharatiya Lok Dal ticket in 1983, setting the stage for his future in state politics.

Siddaramaiah acknowledges Urs as a guiding influence but distinguishes himself from the late leader. “Devaraj Urs was from a forward class, a ruling class, and yet was a popular leader,” he said. Political analysts, however, note clear parallels. Both hail from Mysuru district, and both used politics to champion backward classes, Dalits, and minorities. Urs, credited with the landmark Land Reforms Act of 1974, abolished tenancy systems and redistributed land to landless farmers, while also forming the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission in 1978. He coined the term “Ahinda” to unite minorities, backward communities, and Dalits, a strategy Siddaramaiah has echoed in his own political outreach.

Siddaramaiah’s most prominent welfare initiative, the Bhagya model, reflects this ethos. Programs like Anna Bhagya, which provides subsidized rations, and Ksheera Bhagya, supplying free milk to children in schools and Anganwadi centres, underscore his focus on social welfare and food security. Political analyst Harish Ramaswamy notes that Siddaramaiah combines social justice with a concrete, welfare-driven approach, bringing smaller communities into the mainstream.

Yet, critics point to shortcomings. Allegations of misappropriation in scheduled tribe welfare, communal clashes, and delays in implementation of government schemes contrast with Urs’ reputation as a statesman who nurtured second-line leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Veerappa Moily. Siddaramaiah, in contrast, is seen as a mass leader whose protégés have mostly remained loyal followers rather than independent leaders.

Former minister M.C. Nanaiah recalls Urs’ keen eye for backward class representation, scouting for OBC MLAs across the state. Siddaramaiah, similarly, emphasizes Ahinda as a political base, illustrating continuity in championing marginalized communities. Yet, senior BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa cautions against drawing direct comparisons, citing differences in administrative style and governance.

Siddaramaiah, however, publicly credits Urs for shaping his political journey. In a post on X, he said, “Among senior leaders, Devaraj Urs holds a very special place in my heart. We shared the same ideological convictions, and like him, I too am a son of the Mysuru soil. That bond makes his legacy deeply personal to me.”

Through this acknowledgment, Siddaramaiah positions himself not merely as a record-holder in tenure but as a torchbearer of Urs’ legacy, blending social justice, welfare schemes, and backward-class mobilization into Karnataka’s contemporary political fabric.

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