new delhi, May 29
Even as the Congress weighs its next move in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar on Friday paid tribute to Siddaramaiah, crediting the outgoing chief minister for his leadership and describing him as a guiding force within the party.
The remarks come at a politically significant moment, with Shivakumar emerging as a leading contender for the chief minister’s post after Siddaramaiah stepped down on Thursday. The transition has revived discussions around the Congress leadership structure in Karnataka, where both leaders have long been seen as the party’s two most influential faces.
In a message posted on X, Shivakumar reflected on Siddaramaiah’s decades-long public life and said success is shaped not by destiny alone but by how opportunities are used.
“God does not give boons or curses. He only gives opportunities. What truly matters is what we make of those opportunities,” Shivakumar wrote, adding that Siddaramaiah’s life exemplified that belief.
He said the outgoing chief minister’s tenure would be remembered for welfare initiatives, development programmes and governance focused on ordinary citizens.
According to Shivakumar, the impact of several public welfare schemes and developmental measures introduced under Siddaramaiah’s leadership would remain an important part of Karnataka’s growth story. He also credited the former chief minister with helping shape the state’s political and social landscape through nearly five decades of public service.
Shivakumar also highlighted their political partnership within the Congress, recalling that Siddaramaiah stood by him after he was appointed Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president in 2020.
