Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressing the audience during the valedictory function of the 72nd All India Cooperative Week in Chamarajanagar on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah referred to his days in the Janata Dal (Secular) and said that had he continued in that party, he would never have become Chief Minister.
He was speaking in Chamarajanagar at the valedictory function of the 72nd All-India Cooperative Week on Thursday.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said: “I became the Chief Minister twice on joining the Congress after being thrown out of the JD(S)”.
“Had I continued in the JD(S), H.D. Deve Gowda (former Prime Minister) and his children would not have allowed me to become the Chief Minister,” he added.
Recalling his earlier days, he referred to Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, who was on the stage and said they were together till 2005.
“After I was expelled from the JD(S), Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda remained there. But in one way, he is with us again,” remarked Mr. Siddaramaiah, even as the former tried to hide his discomfiture with a smile.
Incidentally, Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda is perceived to be aloof from the party leadership and has distanced himself after he was overlooked for the post of the leader of the JD(S) legislature party. JD(S) leaders were also non-committal of Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda’s participation in the party’s silver jubilee celebrations slated to be held in Mysuru on Friday.
Published – November 21, 2025 12:04 am IST
