Accompanied by Shivakumar and other ministers of his Cabinet, Siddaramaiah handed over his resignation to the special secretary of Governor Thawarchand Gehlot who was out of station at that time. Hours after resigning, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, left separately for New Delhi on Thursday to discuss modalities for the new Cabinet formation.

Sources said Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank may be among the four deputy chief ministers likely to be placed under Shivakumar. The oath ceremony for the new CM is expected to be on Sunday. The Chief Whip of Karnataka Legislative Council, Saleem Ahmed said the next CM will be elected by the MLAs and his name will be announced by the Congress Legislative Party.

In submitting his resignation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, his likely successor, among other ministers. Siddaramaiah reached Lok Bhavan in a car belonging to one of his close aides and minister of urban development Byrathi Suresh. The Governor was expected to return in the evening. After tendering his resignation, Siddaramaiah along with his Cabinet ministers departed from Lok Bhavan to return to CM's residence "Krishna" to address a press conference.

Siddaramaiah ruled out his entry into national politics and stated he will confine himself to state politics since has two-years as an MLA to serve people and the state. "I was offered a Rajya Sabha berth by the high command during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday wherein the offer was politely declined," said Siddaramaiah at a crowded press conference with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Sivakumar and Minister of Home Dr G. Parameshwar seated on either side of him.

"I will continue in active politics and continue to fight communal forces,' he said of his role in the coming days. "I am a firm believer in the Constitution and till my last breath I will continue my fight against communal forces and forces against the Constitution," he stated and said "If Constitution framed by Dr B.R. Ambedkar was not there, then I would have ended up grazing sheep and would not have been educated, become MLA, DyCM or CM."

When the Chief Minister visited Lok Bhavan to tender his resignation, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was out of station and currently on a visit to Indore and Maharashtra. His return is yet to be confirmed. Governor left for Indore and Maharashtra on Wednesday.

At a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah exuded confidence that the Governor will have to approve his resignation as per the Constitution and make way for the new Chief Minister to take charge. "It is his responsibility," said the Chief Minister.

Prior to his resignation, Siddaramaiah hosted a breakfast meeting at his official residence "Kaveri" which was attended by a host of ministers including D.K. Shivakumar, Dr H.C. Mahadevappa, Dr G. Parameshwar, Satish Jarkiholi, Madhu Bangrappa, M.B. Patil among many others. At the breakfast meeting, Siddaramaiah announced his decision to quit the post and thanked his Cabinet colleagues for their cooperation in discharging his duties as Chief Minister. Minister of labour Santosh Lad was emotional on hearing Siddaramaiah's decision to quit as Chief Minister.

After his resignation to the post of Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah said he acted as per the direction of the high command to step down as Chief Minister and that the decision to step down was "voluntary." He clarified "There was no pressure exerted on me by high command to resign."

A special flight carrying Congress leader Siddaramaiah, his son Yathindra and party national general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala besides others made a landing in Jaipur instead of New Delhi due to bad weather on Thursday, the Chief Minister's Office said.

Shortly after tendering his resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah left for the national capital, where he is likely to meet the Congress high command regarding his successor and the Cabinet formation exercise, official sources said.

Siddaramaiah assured "the people of the State to fight if the Constitution comes under danger from vested interests and also communal forces besides striving for social equality."

He said his political spanning across 5 decades, he never went after power or money and wished to create assets and stated he began his political career as a Taluk Board member in 1978 and became MLA for the first time in 1983. "He termed his life an "open chapter."

Siddaramaiah said "I never compromised with my values and ideologies" and stated "Only a leader who enjoys people's support can sustain in public life."

He thanked Congress leaders- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi in particular for giving him an opportunity to serve as Chief Minister twice and Leader of Opposition.