Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday mounted a strong defence of his social justice plank, taking a dig at JDS’s HD Kumaraswamy and asserting that the Indian National Congress alone has a tradition of nurturing leadership beyond family lines.
The Chief Minister said a recent article he wrote to mark Social Justice Day had triggered wide political debate. Welcoming the discussion, he argued that systems must remain dynamic to serve people better and maintained that his commitment to equity has remained consistent over four decades in public life. He also expressed readiness for an open debate on caste and representation.
Defending the piece, he said: “An article I wrote for a newspaper as part of Social Justice Day celebrations has sparked multifaceted debate in the state’s political circles. If water remains stagnant, it turns into slush; if it flows, it becomes clearer.”
“The social system is similar–if it does not remain rigid and instead becomes dynamic, it transforms in a people-centric manner. From this perspective, I welcome the discussion surrounding my article,” he added.
Responding to criticism that he was invoking caste considerations for political gain, Siddaramaiah dismissed the charge and turned the spotlight on the Janata Dal (Secular), alleging that its top leadership has historically remained confined to one family.
Without naming individuals beyond Kumaraswamy and his father, HD Deve Gowda, he questioned how many leaders from the Vokkaliga community had been groomed within that party.
In contrast, he said the Congress has produced and promoted leaders from diverse social backgrounds, including Vokkaligas, Lingayats and backward classes, elevating them to the state’s highest office. He noted that he himself, hailing from a backward community, was given the opportunity to serve as Chief Minister more than once.
The Chief Minister further asserted that if a Dalit leader were to occupy the top post in the state in the future, it would be through the Congress. He said such advancement would be based on merit and ideological commitment rather than lineage, and challenged rival parties to articulate a similar vision.
– Ends
Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Feb 23, 2026
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