A file photo of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
| Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was free to make changes to the speech provided by the State government while delivering the Republic Day address.
Fielding queries from reporters in Mysuru on Sunday (January 25, 2026), Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Governor is bound by the Constitution to deliver the speech given to him by the government while addressing the joint session of the State Legislature.
He, however, has the liberty to make changes to the speech to be delivered the Republic Day celebrations.
Citing Articles 176 and 163 of the Constitution, the Chief Minister said it is clearly stated that the Governor “shall” address the joint session of the State Legislature and therefore does not have the “discretion” to refrain from doing so.
He said he was not aware whether the Governor would read the government’s speech or make changes to it on Republic Day.
When his attention was drawn to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot submitting a report to President Droupadi Murmu over the row during the address to the joint session, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Governor was free to do so. “Let him give…He has informed what has taken place (during the address to the joint session)”, he said while making it clear that the State government would not submit any report in this regard.
With regard to the reported exclusion of Karnataka’s tableau themed ‘Millets to Microchip’ in the Republic Day parade 2026 at New Delhi, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the State had sent the tableau, but the authorities in the national capital had not selected it.
To a question, he said the State had sent proper communication in the regard too. “It is for them to choose”, he said.
Referring to the participation of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil in the World Economic Forum (WEF) meet at Davos, Mr. Siddaramaiah said Karnataka enjoyed a favourable environment for investment and the state had a large manpower of both skilled and non-skilled workers.
The State Government was providing skill training and people with skills will surely get employment, he said.
With regard to the upcoming State Budget, Mr. Siddarmaiah said preliminary discussions with officials from the Finance Department were underway and meetings for the budget preparations would start from February 2.
Published – January 25, 2026 04:31 pm IST
