In a bustling update from Davangere, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed that Karnataka’s 2026-27 budget presentation date is imminent. The announcement came during an impromptu media interaction on Monday at the helipad of Sri Maharshi Valmiki Gurupeetha premises.
Veteran leader Siddaramaiah is poised to present his 17th state budget, eclipsing all previous finance ministers in tenure length. This milestone underscores his enduring influence in Karnataka politics. Pre-budget huddles with departmental heads are already underway, signaling meticulous planning.
The CM affirmed, ‘Budget preparations are progressing well; expect the date announcement any time now.’ This comes at a time when internal Congress dynamics are under scrutiny, with the statement interpreted as a bold affirmation of his continued leadership.
Party insiders view it as a definitive rebuttal to whispers of a leadership transition. On the long-standing call for a tribal university, Siddaramaiah indicated the government’s receptiveness, promising a thoughtful resolution.
Metro fare increases drew sharp questions, to which the CM responded that such matters fall under central authority via the appointed Metro Chairman, absolving state involvement. He sidestepped speculations on DK Shivakumar’s Delhi deliberations, advising direct inquiry.
Venturing into broader critiques, Siddaramaiah decried the India-US agreement as detrimental to farmers, claiming PM Modi yielded to external pressures. Addressing Valmiki community aspirations for ministerial representation, he clarified no dismissals have happened, attributing exits to exigencies, with future expansions in mind.
He debunked tales of SS Mallikarjun resigning as baseless. Turning to Parliament, his social media salvo lambasted Modi’s absence from the Lok Sabha thanks motion debate as an act of cowardice—a historic first without PM intervention.
Siddaramaiah pointed out the irony: the government muzzled opposition voices, then maintained silence. Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to table national security issues from Gen Naravane’s book was curtailed mid-speech. ‘Modi chose absence over answers,’ he charged.
The Speaker Om Birla’s partisanship, he argued, further eroded parliamentary sanctity. ‘Speakers guard the House, not the government,’ Siddaramaiah emphasized.
With this record-breaking budget on the horizon, the CM’s multifaceted address reinforces his political stature, blending state priorities with national commentary in a calculated narrative.