Siddaramaiah Statue Installed and Removed in Kalaburagi Ahead of CM Shivakumar’s Visit

A nine-foot statue of former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah was placed at High Court Circle in Kalaburagi on the night of September 16. City-corporation officials removed it in the early hours of September 17, just before chief minister D K Shivakumar was to pass the spot during his visit for the Kalyana Karnataka Utsav. Municipal staff covered the statue with a cloth and later took it to a secure location.

Before and after: 9ft Siddaramaiah statue appears overnight in Kalaburagi, gone before DKS passes by Deccan ChronicleHindustan TimesSiddaramaiah statue up overnight, down before DK Shivakumar passes by The Hindu

Siddaramaiah, a senior Congress leader from the Kuruba community, is celebrated by his supporters for “AHINDA” welfare policies. The Kuruba Sangha has repeatedly sought to rename High Court Circle after him, a request that has not received official approval. The incident occurred amid a power struggle within the Karnataka Congress following Shivakumar’s assumption of the chief ministership and the appointment of B K Hariprasad as state party president.

Hindustan Times

• Statue height: nine feet.

Siddaramaiah statue up overnight, down before DK Shivakumar passes by

• Installation: night of September 16; removal: early September 17.

Deccan Chronicle

• Reported installers: seven to eight people versus around ten people.

Deccan Chronicle

• Location: High Court Circle, Kalaburagi, a site whose renaming has been demanded by Siddaramaiah supporters.

Before and after: 9ft Siddaramaiah statue appears overnight in Kalaburagi, gone before DKS passes by

• Community deadline: Kuruba leaders have asked authorities to reinstall the statue by September 23, threatening agitation otherwise.

The Hindu

City-corporation officials said the statue had been erected without permission from the district administration or the municipal body. They acted after learning of the installation, covering the structure and removing it under police cover to avoid a law-and-order issue. Gurunath Pujari, district president of the Kuruba Sangha, noted that supporters had previously sought permission and called the unauthorized placement “improper.” Community leaders Siddanagouda and K M Halappa warned that the removal hurt Kuruba sentiments and urged clearance before reinstalling the monument.

The Hindu

R Ashoka, leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, described the overnight episode as evidence of continuing tensions within the state Congress over succession and power distribution. He suggested that the statue controversy reflects a broader “Congress rift” that remains unresolved.

Hindustan Times

Sources differ on the number of individuals involved in the installation: Hindustan Times cites seven to eight people from Sharan Sirasagi village, while India Times reports around ten supporters. No source provides definitive identification of the organizers, and it remains unclear whether the act was coordinated by any formal political entity.

Hindustan Times

• “Preventing the installation of Mr. Siddaramaiah’s statue is not appropriate. We are certain that the statue will be installed again here after obtaining the necessary permission,” — Siddanagouda, Kuruba community leader

The Hindu

• “Corporation officials reached the site after learning about the installation, covered the statue and brought in police personnel to prevent any confrontation. The structure was subsequently removed and taken to a secure location,” — an official

Hindustan Times

• “The statue had been put up despite previous requests by Siddaramaiah supporters for permission to install one at the site,” — Gurunath Pujari, district president of the Kuruba Sangha

Hindustan Times