D Devaraj Urs (1972-77) and Siddaramaiah (2013-18)
1958 | S Nijalingappa | The veteran Congressman assumed charge as CM after the unification of Mysore state but rebellion by Lingayat MLAs in Congress disrupted his administration. 1990 | Veerendra Patil | Congress secured a thumping win in the 1989 elections, and Veerendra Patil was again chosen as CM. 1992 | S Bangarappa | His tenure was marred by allegations of corruption and internal rebellion. 1996 | HD Deve Gowda | After Janata Dal defeated Congress in 1994, HD Deve Gowda was sworn in as CM. But a fractured verdict in the 1996 general elections saw Gowda chosen as PM.
During a visit to Karnataka, Congress president Rajiv Gandhi announced at Bengaluru airport that Patil would be replaced. Congress’ high command sided with the rebels and Nijalingappa was forced to resign well before completing his term. He was replaced by BD Jatti. However, within a year, communal clashes in Channapatna and Davanagere triggered a major law-and-order crisis. Patil, meanwhile, was recovering from paralysis in hospital. S Bangarappa was made CM. Dissidents led by senior functionary M Veerappa Moily openly campaigned against him. Alarmed by the turmoil, Congress asked Bangarappa to resign and appointed Veerappa Moily as CM. He resigned as CM, paving the way for JH Patel to take charge.
1971 | Veerendra Patil | Following a split in Congress party in 1969, Lingayat representative Veerendra Patil, who aligned with Congress (Organisation) faction, became CM. However, after Indira Gandhi secured a landslide victory in the 1971 general elections, several ministers and MLAs defected to her faction. 1980 | D Devaraj Urs | Widely regarded as a mass leader of backward communities, Urs became CM for a second term. But when Indira Gandhi returned to the helm at the Centre in 1980, several MLAs from Urs’ faction shifted allegiance to the Indira-led Congress. 1988 | Ramakrishna Hegde | He was Karnataka’s first non-Congress CM, but resigned amid allegations of phone tapping involving opposition leaders and dissenters in his own party.
The govt lost its majority and collapsed, paving the way for the first imposition of President’s Rule in Karnataka. Urs’ govt lost its majority and he resigned. After falling out with Indira Gandhi, Urs floated his own faction, Congress (Urs). He was succeeded by R Gundu Rao. Claiming moral responsibility, Hegde stepped down midway through his term. SR Bommai succeeded him.