Congress will remain in power after 2028 Karnataka polls: CM Siddaramaiah reiterates

Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that Congress will come to power in 2028 too. However, the decision on leadership is left to Congress high command, he said.

He was speaking to media persons in Mysuru Airport on Sunday.

Answering a question by media persons about H D Devegowda's statement in Hassan Convention regarding cases against H D Revanna's family, that 'a time will come', they will make Karnataka congress free and JD(S) will come to power in 2028, CM said, "We have taken steps as per the law. We have not interfered. We will not interfere in any case. If they find anything as such, let them do it as per the law. First of all they won't come to power. I don't know in what sense they say so."

"When I was JD(S) president they got 58 seats in 2004 assembly elections and 19 seats in 2023. We have got 135 seats and we now have 140 seats. Both JD(S) and BJP put together could not get a majority. How will JD (S) come to power? If BJP gets more seats, will they keep quiet, letting a JD(S) leader to become CM?" he questioned.

Regarding allegations of H D Devegowda and H D Kumarswamy that the SIT officials who handled the case of Prajwal Revanna were rewarded with a prize of Rs 30 lakh, he said, "It is false, there is no such thing," he dismissed.

Budget

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the budget meetings will begin on February 1. We have already begun preliminary discussions with the finance department.

World Economic Forum

Regarding World Economic Forum (WEF) annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, he said, "Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Industries minister M B Patil are participating in it. There is a good atmosphere and opportunity for investment in Karnataka. We have good skilled and unskilled manpower in Karnataka. There are adequate skill development training programmes here. Wherever there are skilled employees, obviously they will get employment," he said.

Governor's speech

Regarding the report of the Governor to the President of India regarding his speech during the beginning of special joint session of the Karnataka Legislature, he said, "He has informed about it. Section 176 and 163 of Indian Constitution mandates that the Governor shall read the speech written by the State Government and he will have no discretion. We will give him the republic day speech written by the State Government. He may change that too. There are chances for it," he said.

About tableaux of Karnataka being skipped from the Republic day parade in Delhi, he dismissed the allegation that there was no proper communication of letters from the State Government with the Union Government, "There was proper communication. But it is for the Union Government to decide about having the State's tableaux in the parade," he said.