Wed Sep 25 18:55:44 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Credits Venugopal for His Political Revival
**Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala**: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has publicly praised AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, attributing his political revival to Venugopal’s guidance during the 2018 elections. While presenting the Aryadan Mohammed memorial award to Venugopal in Nilambur, Kerala, Siddaramaiah revealed that Venugopal’s strategic advice helped him secure a victory in the Badami constituency, thus preventing a potential setback to his political career.
Siddaramaiah recounted that he initially wanted to contest from Chamundeshwari, but Venugopal, who was then in charge of Karnataka, advised against it, predicting a defeat. Despite Siddaramaiah’s initial reluctance, Venugopal’s persistence and the potential consequences of a loss convinced him to consider Badami as an alternative. The outcome saw Siddaramaiah losing Chamundeshwari but winning Badami, allowing him to remain in politics and eventually become Chief Minister again.
The Chief Minister further highlighted Venugopal’s influence on the Karnataka government’s five guarantee schemes, stating that they were inspired by Venugopal’s vision. He also praised Venugopal’s dedication to reviving the Congress party across India, emphasizing his satisfaction in presenting the award to such a prominent figure.
Siddaramaiah’s public commendation of Venugopal comes at a time when the BJP is demanding his resignation over the MUDA scam. He also used the occasion to stress the shared ideologies of secularism between Kerala and Karnataka, drawing parallels between Sree Narayana Guru and Basavaṇṇa.
The event was attended by Kerala opposition leader V D Satheesan and other senior Congress leaders.
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