Siddaramaiah statue removed in Kalaburagi after overnight illegal install at High Court Circle
Synopsis
A nine-foot Siddaramaiah statue was installed overnight without permission at Kalaburagi's High Court Circle — the second such attempt at the same spot in three years — and removed within hours by the city corporation. The timing, on Chief Minister Shivakumar's travel route, has sharpened political intrigue around the Congress power dynamic in Karnataka.
Key Takeaways
A nine-foot statue of former CM Siddaramaiah was installed overnight without permission at High Court Circle, Kalaburagi on 17 September .
The Kalaburagi City Corporation removed the statue, citing the absence of required clearances from the district administration.
Around eight to ten people , reportedly from the Kuruba community , were involved in the installation.
The same group had installed — and had removed — a Siddaramaiah statue at the same location approximately three years ago .
The statue was placed on the route of Chief Minister D.K.
Shivakumar's visit to Kalaburagi, adding a political dimension to the incident.
Police remained deployed at the site post-removal; no arrests have been reported.
A nine-foot statue of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was removed by the Kalaburagi City Corporation on Thursday, 17 September, hours after supporters installed it overnight without authorisation at High Court Circle in Kalaburagi. The action was carried out under tight police security, with authorities citing the absence of mandatory permissions from the district administration or the city corporation.
How the Unauthorised Installation Unfolded
According to officials, a group of eight to ten people — reportedly members of the Kuruba community, the same caste group to which Siddaramaiah belongs — installed the statue in the early hours without seeking any regulatory clearance. The group had been vocal in its demand that High Court Circle be officially renamed after the former chief minister. When authorities declined to approve the proposal, the group reportedly went ahead and erected the statue unilaterally.
Notably, this is not the first such incident at the same location. The same group had reportedly installed a Siddaramaiah statue at High Court Circle approximately three years ago, which was also removed by the authorities at the time. The latest installation marks a second attempt at the identical site.
The Political Timing Factor
The timing of the statue's installation drew immediate scrutiny. It occurred on the route taken by incumbent Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during his visit to Kalaburagi and his onward journey to the Ganagapura temple. Political observers noted that placing the statue on Shivakumar's scheduled path added a charged dimension to what might otherwise have been a civic matter.
There was speculation in political circles that the move was a calculated attempt to pressure the ruling government into either regularising the statue or renaming the circle. However, authorities moved swiftly to remove the structure, reiterating that the installation lacked the requisite permissions.
The Shivakumar-Siddaramaiah Dynamic
The incident has rekindled public discussion around the often-scrutinised relationship between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, both senior leaders in Karnataka's ruling Indian National Congress (INC). There have been periodic reports of political friction between the two over power-sharing and leadership succession within the state unit. Neither leader has publicly commented on the statue controversy, according to available reports.
This comes amid broader tensions within the Karnataka Congress over governance and factional alignments, making even symbolic gestures — such as a community group's demand to rename a public circle — politically loaded.
Administration's Response and Ground Situation
Police remained deployed at High Court Circle after the statue's removal to prevent any escalation or law-and-order disruptions. Officials maintained a firm stance, stating the removal was purely procedural and in accordance with civic regulations. No arrests have been reported in connection with the installation, though further developments are awaited.
Point of View
Same location, same demand, three years apart, and still no resolution on whether High Court Circle will be renamed. The administration's silence on the underlying naming request is what keeps manufacturing these flashpoints. More telling is the timing: installing the statue on Shivakumar's travel corridor is a legible political signal aimed squarely at the Congress high command's most delicate internal equation. The Shivakumar-Siddaramaiah relationship is the Karnataka Congress's most consequential fault line, and community groups allied with Siddaramaiah appear willing to exploit public space to keep pressure on. Until the state Congress resolves its succession question, expect these symbolic confrontations to recur.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Siddaramaiah statue in Kalaburagi removed?
The statue was removed by the Kalaburagi City Corporation on 17 September because it was installed overnight without obtaining mandatory permission from the district administration or the city corporation. Authorities cited the absence of required clearances as the sole reason for its removal.
Who installed the Siddaramaiah statue at High Court Circle?
Around eight to ten people, reportedly members of the Kuruba community — the caste group to which Siddaramaiah belongs — installed the statue. The group had been demanding that High Court Circle in Kalaburagi be officially renamed after the former chief minister.
Has this happened before at the same location?
Yes. The same group reportedly installed a Siddaramaiah statue at High Court Circle approximately three years ago, and it was removed by authorities at that time as well. The latest incident is the second such attempt at the identical site.
What is the political significance of the statue timing?
The statue was installed on the route taken by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during his visit to Kalaburagi and his journey to the Ganagapura temple. Political observers noted that the placement appeared designed to pressure the government into regularising the statue or renaming the circle, and it has reignited discussion about the power dynamics between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah within Karnataka's ruling Congress.
What is the current situation at High Court Circle, Kalaburagi?
Police remained deployed at High Court Circle after the statue's removal to maintain order and prevent any unrest. No arrests have been reported in connection with the unauthorised installation, and further developments are awaited.
