SIDDARAMAIAH, KARNATAKA CHIEF MINISTER
It was unavoidable, as at stake is his chief minister’s seat. “If you want me to survive, you should give a clear lead to the Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha polls,” he pleads to the voters in Varuna, his assembly constituency. Amid rumours of him being replaced as chief minister after the Lok Sabha polls, only a good show on his home turf, Mysuru, will give him a slim chance for survival.
And helping him in the tough campaign are his son, Yathindra, who vacated his seat for his father in the last assembly polls, and a bunch of loyalists. Siddaramaiah and his crew are locked up in a room to avoid the stream of visitors to his house. He slumps into a king-size red leatherette chair in front of the television. A channel shows Union Minister Amit Shah addressing a rally in Bengaluru and accusing Siddaramaiah of playing ‘drought politics’.”
Even as the the chief minister’s media team prepares a counter, he seeks his son’s help to remove his shoes. Nursing his swollen feet, he suggests the shoe size could perhaps be wrong. Yathindra teases him saying he does not know his own shoe size as he never shops for himself.
But Siddaramaiah seems sure of improving his party’s tally in the state, winning at least 20 of the 28 seats. In an exclusive interview, he also shares his thoughts on a spectrum of issues—from the Karnataka model of development, the impact of the Congress’s five guarantees on the polls, the Centre's apathy towards the drought-hit state, and the waning Modi magic. Excerpts:
This story is from the April 28, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 28, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lessons in leadership
When I began my career at Hindustan Lever (as HUL was then called), I was deeply inspired by our chairman, Dr Ashok S. Ganguly.
Political colours
One of the greatest fashion statements of recent times was made in the Parliament's winter session by Rahul Gandhi and some opposition colleagues. India's most news-making politician (since his landmark Bharat Jodo Yatra) gave up his signature white polo T-shirt for a blue one.
Chat roam
Vox pop content is seeing an uptick in India, with creators making conversations on current and social issues fun and funny
Back home with BANNG
Michelin star-winning chef Garima Arora, who recently opened her first restaurant in India, on all things food and family
One supercalifragilisticexpialidocious New Year
Once Christmas is over, tension mounts in our home as the little woman and I start ticking off the days. We both remain on edge because we dread the coming of the New Year—a time when the whole world goes crazy and adopts resolutions. We, too, make New Year promises and our ‘list of past resolutions’ is very long and impressive. Unfortunately, we are complete failures at keeping them and our ‘list of resolutions not kept’ is equally long and equally impressive.
Six or out?
Cricket is a quasi-religion in India. And our pantheon of cricketers is worshipped with a fervour bordering on hysteria.
DOWN AND UNDER THE WEATHER
After their flop show in Australia, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have to live on current form rather than past glory
The new in news
THE WEEK and DataLEADS partner to revolutionise news with fact-checks, data and Live Journalism
Hello Middle East
Reem Al-Hashimy, UAE minister of state for international cooperation, inaugurates a special Middle East section on THE WEEK website
BAIT CLICK
Dark patterns fool millions of Indians every day. The government is finally acting, but it just may not be enough
