Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submits resignation to Governor, declines Rajya Sabha seat

BENGALURU: After resigning as Karnataka Chief Minister, senior leader Siddaramaiah has turned down the proposal put forward by the Congress high command. He reportedly declined a Rajya Sabha seat offered by the leadership and clarified that he prefers to continue in state politics. Siddaramaiah said this while speaking at a press conference after submitting his resignation.

"I had earlier said that I would resign when the high command asks me to do so. They asked me to step down two days ago, and hence, I've submitted my resignation," he said.

By May 20, Siddaramaiah had completed three years as Karnataka Chief Minister. Siddaramaiah officially announced his decision to resign during the breakfast meeting held this morning at “Cauvery,” the official residence of the Chief Minister in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and ministers, including M.B. Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Dr. G. Parameshwara, Madhu Bangarappa, Ramalinga Reddy, and Cheluvaraya Swamy, attended the meeting.

An official announcement regarding the new Chief Minister will be made after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting. However, party sources have already confirmed that D.K. Shivakumar is set to become the next Chief Minister. The resignation announcement came after Siddaramaiah’s meeting with the Congress leadership in Delhi on Tuesday. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reportedly instructed Siddaramaiah to implement the earlier agreement to hand over power to Shivakumar after two and a half years.