India, May 29 -- Siddaramaiah's rise from a staunch Janata Parivar leader and vocal Congress critic to becoming Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister is one of the most remarkable political transformations in the state's history.

The 77-year-old Congress veteran, who openly expressed his desire to complete his full term and exit on a high note, stepped down as Chief Minister two years before the end of his tenure following the Congress high command's decision to implement a leadership change in Karnataka.

During his second stint as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah etched his name into the record books by surpassing the tenure of Congress stalwart Devaraj Urs. On January 7, he became Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister, completin...