File photo of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. | Photo credit: The Hindu
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday (January 25, 2026) scoffed at the possibility of the Janata Dal (Secular) coming to power in Karnataka.
Reacting to remarks by JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda – who spoke of settling political scores “when their time comes” against alleged attempts to undermine party leader HD Revanna – Mr Siddaramaiah said the action against the JD(S) leader was taken strictly in accordance with the law.
While Mr Siddaramaiah said the JD(S) was free to act according to the law if it ever returned to power, he questioned how the party could realistically secure power. He pointed out that the JD(S) had won only 17 seats in the last Assembly elections, while the Congress had secured 136 seats – a tally that has since risen to 140.
Referring to his stint in the JD(S), he said the party had won 59 seats in the 2004 assembly elections, but its strength has now plummeted to 17.
Mr. Siddaramaiah also dismissed claims by JD(S) leaders that the regional party, along with its ally the BJP, will wipe out the Congress in the next elections, calling it mere “political rhetoric”.
He further asked why the BJP would allow the JD(S) to claim the post of chief minister if the saffron party won more seats than its ally.
Published – 25 Jan 2026 18:12 IST
