In a major political development in Karnataka, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned from the post of Chief Minister after days of intense political uncertainty and speculation over a leadership change in the state. The resignation marks a significant shift in Karnataka’s political landscape and comes amid mounting pressure from the Congress high command.
Siddaramaiah, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, submitted his resignation to the office of Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan. Since the Governor was not present in Bengaluru, the resignation letter was handed over to the Governor’s secretary.
The dramatic development unfolded only hours after Siddaramaiah convened a breakfast meeting with cabinet colleagues, where he informed ministers of his decision to step down. The meeting reportedly witnessed emotional moments as several leaders expressed gratitude for his leadership and governance during his tenure.
Addressing a press conference soon after resigning, Siddaramaiah said he had stepped down in accordance with the wishes of the Congress leadership and emphasized that the interests of Karnataka remained his top priority.
“The High Command asked me to resign, and I have honoured my word. The welfare of Karnataka is more important than any position,” Siddaramaiah said.
He also revealed that he had offered to resign on multiple occasions in the past, indicating that discussions regarding a possible leadership transition had been ongoing for some time within the party.
Siddaramaiah further disclosed that he was offered a Rajya Sabha berth by the party leadership but declined the proposal. He stated that the people of Karnataka had elected him for five years and he wished to continue serving the state directly instead of moving to national politics.
“I was chosen by the people of Karnataka for five years. I want to remain in the state and continue serving the people here,” he said.
During the press interaction, Siddaramaiah thanked Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chief Minister twice.
“I got the opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka twice. I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge for their trust and support,” he stated.
Despite the leadership change, Siddaramaiah asserted that the Congress government in Karnataka remains stable and enjoys a full majority in the Assembly.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Governor’s Special Secretary Prabhu Shankar confirmed that Siddaramaiah’s resignation letter had been received by the Raj Bhavan office. However, he clarified that only Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot is authorised to formally accept the resignation upon his return to Bengaluru later in the evening.
Political observers believe the resignation could pave the way for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to assume the top post, although the Congress leadership has not yet made an official announcement regarding the next Chief Minister.
The resignation brings an end to Siddaramaiah’s latest tenure as Chief Minister, a period marked by welfare-focused governance, internal party balancing, and recurring speculation over a power-sharing arrangement within the Congress.
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