Siddaramaiah Channels Devaraj Urs Amid Karnataka CM Power Struggle

• January 6 marks Devaraj Urs' birth anniversary, a pivotal date for Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to assert his legacy.
• Siddaramaiah positions himself as Urs' political heir, linking his welfare schemes and caste census push to Urs' structural social reforms.
• The CM uses the Urs legacy to reinforce his leadership and the AHINDA coalition amidst an intense internal power struggle within the Congress.
• A significant power tussle exists between Siddaramaiah (ideological continuity, mass leader) and D.K. Shivakumar (organizational strength, fundraising).
• Other contenders like G. Parameshwara and Satish Jarkiholi add complexity, while the Congress high command avoids intervention, and BJP questions stability.

Why It Matters: Siddaramaiah leverages Devaraj Urs' legacy to counter internal challenges and solidify his position in Karnataka's power struggle.