Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned from his post, officially ending days of political speculation within the Congress party. Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar has been chosen as his successor, with Siddaramaiah himself confirming the leadership change.
The announcement came after a breakfast meeting with cabinet ministers in Bengaluru on Thursday morning. DK Shivakumar was also present at the meeting where Siddaramaiah informed party colleagues about his decision to step down. He also formally approved Shivakumar’s name as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Emotional Farewell After Resignation
After the meeting, DK Shivakumar touched Siddaramaiah’s feet as a mark of respect, a moment that quickly drew public attention. Soon after, Siddaramaiah went to Lok Bhavan and submitted his resignation letter to the Governor’s office. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot was not present at the time, and the resignation letter was handed over to the Governor’s Secretary.
Addressing a press conference later in the afternoon, Siddaramaiah said, “Two days ago, the party high command directed me to resign. Accordingly, I submitted my resignation today. I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for giving me the opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka twice.”
The veteran Congress leader became emotional while recalling his political journey. He said, “I never ran after money. I never had greed for power.”
Focus on Welfare Schemes
Defending the Congress government’s welfare policies, Siddaramaiah stated that the state’s financial condition remained stable despite the implementation of multiple guarantee schemes. According to him, the programmes helped improve people’s purchasing power across Karnataka.
He further claimed that the government had fulfilled a major portion of its election promises and accused the opposition of repeatedly spreading “false allegations” against the administration.
Rejects Rajya Sabha Offer
Sources within the Congress had earlier indicated that the party leadership was considering a larger national role for Siddaramaiah after stepping down as Chief Minister. Reports also suggested that he had been offered a Rajya Sabha seat.
However, Siddaramaiah confirmed on Thursday that he declined the proposal. “I was asked to go to the Rajya Sabha, but I rejected the offer. I have no intention of joining national politics. I want to remain in Karnataka and continue working for the people here,” he said.
He added that the people elected him for five years and he still has two years left to serve the state.
Congress Leadership Transition in Karnataka
The appointment of DK Shivakumar as Karnataka Chief Minister marks a major political transition for the Congress in the southern state. Party leaders are expected to officially announce the swearing-in schedule soon.
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