Bengaluru, 26 July

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra, came under sharp criticism on Saturday after claiming that the Congress government led by his father has surpassed the accomplishments of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the progressive king of the erstwhile Mysore state prior to India’s Independence.

Krishnaraja Wadiyar’s reign is widely hailed as the “golden era of Mysore,” marked by extensive reforms in the administration and notable strides in science, industry, and education.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Friday, Yathindra said, “If you look at the grants released by Siddaramaiah for Mysuru, no one else has ever done so much for it. The amount of development Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar has done for Mysuru, a matching grant has been released by the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the city.”

While Siddaramaiah himself appeared to distance himself from his son’s remarks, members of the Mysuru royal family, and the Opposition condemned Yathindra’s statement.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar, BJP MP from Mysuru and scion of the former royal family, reminded Yathindra of the true purpose of holding office. “When someone gets power, it is meant for serving people. Coming to power is not a game”.

Senior leader and MLC AH Vishwanath, who also hails from Mysuru, described the remark as "height of arrogance".

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, called Yathindra’s comment a “pathetic joke.”