Siddaramaiah attends event in wheelchair, 9 days after injury

Bengaluru: Braving a knee injury that had confined him to his official residence since Feb 2, chief minister Siddaramaiah attended the inaugural event of Invest Karnataka 2025, the state's marquee global investors' meet, Tuesday. Although he arrived in a wheelchair, he stood to deliver his speech, light the inaugural lamp, and launch the revamped single-window system.
Siddaramaiah had skipped the inauguration of the Aero India 2025 show Monday and this marked his first public event since developing knee pain.
His resilience drew a witty remark from guest of honour defence minister Rajnath Singh, who, in his inaugural address, quipped, "In politics, keeping your legs safe is very important. You must be mindful because you will find stumbling blocks everywhere." The remark evoked laughter from the audience, with Siddaramaiah smiling in response.
Singh also wished the CM a swift recovery, saying, "Siddaramaiah is a seasoned politician, and he has been safely crossing hurdles in his way. I am very confident that he will recover quickly from this injury."
Siddaramaiah was briefly hospitalised after developing knee pain recently, with sources close to him assuring that it was not a serious concern. He has been advised to avoid putting pressure on his right leg due to torn ligaments.
Despite his condition, Siddaramaiah remained present throughout the event, engaging with ministers and industry leaders who gathered to greet him. A special wheelchair ramp was set up to facilitate his movement onto the stage, reflecting the extensive preparations made for his participation.
Shivakumar and industries minister MB Patil played key roles in assisting the CM during the event. While Shivakumar held Siddaramaiah's chair, Patil extended a helping hand as he moved across the stage.
Industry leaders Anand Mahindra and Sajjan Jindal also approached Siddaramaiah and enquired after his health. However, during the formal signing of MoUs, Shivakumar and Patil stepped in for the customary photo-op, as Siddaramaiah remained seated. Patil, an aide of the CM, even attempted to adjust the frame to ensure Siddaramaiah was included in the picture.