Chief Minister Siddaramaiah signing his cut out, after becoming the longest-serving CM of Karnataka, surpassing the record set by the late Devaraj Urs, in Mysuru on January 6, 2026.
| Photo Credit: MA Sriram
1. Siddaramaiah to break Devaraj Urs’s record of being the longest-serving CM of Karnataka on January 7
Seventy-eight-year-old Congress leader Siddaramaiah on January 7, 2026, will become the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka by eclipsing the record held by his role model and the party’s social justice icon D. Devaraj Urs. Urs held the post for two terms and was in office for seven years and 239 days. While Urs served as the Chief Minister from 1972 to 1977 and from 1978 to 1980, Mr. Siddaramaiah has been holding the post since May 2023, after serving a full term during 2013-18.
Both backward class leaders hail from Mysuru, and both have been able to connect with the last man in the social hierarchy through pro-poor schemes. S. Nijalingappa of the Congress now stands third on the list, having served two terms, for seven years and 175 days. While the implementation of land reforms during Urs’s tenure was considered a revolutionary move in redistribution of lands, Mr. Siddaramaiah’s welfare schemes have earned him the reputation as “champion of the poor”.
2. Confident of completing full term, but decision left to high command, asserts Siddaramaiah
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who equalled D. Devaraj Urs’ record of longest tenure as Chief Minister of Karnataka on January 6, expressed confidence of completing the ensuing term of the Assembly at the helm. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Mr. Siddaramaiah, however, said a decision on completing the current term will depend on the decision of the party High Command.
He further said his aim was not to break any record. “This record has happened coincidentally. I did not even know how many years Devaraj Urs had governed. With the blessings of the people, it has been possible to equal his record.” Expressing satisfaction over his long political career, he said, “Politics means working for the poor, Dalits, and backward classes.”
3. Lalbagh passport office in Bengaluru, Mysuru court receie hoax bomb threats
A bomb threat was received via email at the Passport Office located on Lalbagh Road, triggering a security alert on January 6. Though personnel from bomb disposal squad and police teams carried out an inspection of the premises and surrounding areas, no suspicious objects were found. Investigation has been launched to trace the source of the email and the person behind the hoax.
The premises of the Mysore Law Courts were also evacuated in the morning following an alleged bomb threat. A police team along with bomb disposal squad cordoned off the premises and had the advocates, clients and general public vacate the complex. The Malalawadi court premises were also evacuated as a safety measure in view of the alleged threat.
4. Agrileaf develops AI driven technology to grade, sort out arecanut
Agrileaf Exports Private Limited at Nidle in Dakshina Kannada has developed a completely functional prototype of AI-based arecanut grading and sorting machine, according to its founder and Chief Executive Officer Avinash Rao.
The AI-driven, computer-based arecanut grading technology which is the initiative of the company’s co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Athishay Jain can be used to sort out four grades of arecanut. The grades are chali, ulli, fator and karigot.
Published – January 06, 2026 06:53 pm IST
