Kalaburagi, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A nine-foot statue of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, installed overnight without official permission at High Court Circle in Kalaburagi, was removed by the city administration on Thursday amid tight police security.
According to officials, a group of Siddaramaiah supporters installed the statue without obtaining the required permission from the district administration or the Kalaburagi City Corporation. Authorities subsequently removed the structure, citing the absence of necessary approvals.
The installation took place while Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was in Kalaburagi for the Kalyana Karnataka Utsava. The location was also on the route Shivakumar was scheduled to take during his onward journey to Afzalpur, bringing additional attention to the timing of the development.
Reports said a group of around seven to 10 people was involved in installing the statue. The site had previously been associated with efforts by Siddaramaiah supporters to identify the area as “Siddaramaiah Circle”.
A similar incident had reportedly occurred at the same location around three years ago, when supporters attempted to establish the name of the circle without following the required official process. Authorities had intervened on that occasion as well.
The latest installation came amid ongoing political discussion within Karnataka over the relationship between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The timing of the statue’s installation, coinciding with Shivakumar’s visit, has triggered speculation in political circles about its significance.
However, there has been no public statement from either Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar on the latest incident.
Civic authorities moved to remove the statue after it was found to have been installed without permission. Police personnel were deployed at the site during the operation to prevent any law-and-order situation.
Further developments are awaited.
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