Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Minister Denies Political Angle in Removal of Siddaramaiah Statue
A group installed a large statue of Siddaramaiah in Kalaburagi overnight.
They did not get the permissions required for putting up a statue.
City officials therefore removed it on Thursday.
Minister Ajay Singh said this was only a rules-related action.
He said it was not connected to D.K. Shivakumar’s visit.
Some people questioned the timing because the statue stood along Shivakumar’s route.
Officials rejected that political explanation.
A similar statue had also been removed from the same place about three years earlier.
Police were present to help keep the situation peaceful.
A nine-foot Siddaramaiah statue was installed overnight at High Court Circle in Kalaburagi.
Kalaburagi City Corporation removed it on Thursday because required permissions had not been obtained.
Minister Ajay Singh said the removal followed rules and had no political connection.
The statue was installed along the route of D.K. Shivakumar’s Kalaburagi visit, prompting speculation.
Authorities deployed police to prevent law-and-order problems during the removal.
- Who
- Minister Ajay Singh, Kalaburagi City Corporation officials, police, and supporters who installed the statue.
- What
- A nine-foot statue of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was removed after officials found it lacked required permission.
- When
- The latest statue was installed overnight and removed on Thursday; Ajay Singh commented on Friday.
- Where
- High Court Circle in Kalaburagi, Karnataka.
- Why
- Officials said the statue was installed without permission from the district administration or city corporation; its timing also prompted political speculation.
Official Explanation
Political-Timing Speculation
Reason for removal
Official Explanation
Ajay Singh and officials said the statue was removed because it had been installed without the necessary permissions.
Political-Timing Speculation
The installation’s timing led to speculation that the removal was connected to D.K. Shivakumar’s visit.
Connection to leadership visit
Official Explanation
Ajay Singh said there was no connection between Shivakumar’s visit and the statue’s removal, and that neither Shivakumar nor Siddaramaiah knew about the installation.
Political-Timing Speculation
Supporters and observers questioned the timing because the statue was installed along Shivakumar’s route to Ganagapura temple.
- Statue height
- Nine feet
- Location
- High Court Circle, Kalaburagi
- Removal authority
- Kalaburagi City Corporation
- Stated reason
- Installation without required permission
- Installation group
- Around eight to 10 people, including members of the Kuruba community
- Earlier incident
- A Siddaramaiah statue at the same location was removed about three years ago
- Security
- Police were deployed during the removal