Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resigned from his position on Thursday, submitting his resignation to the Governor's Special Secretary at Lok Bhavan.
He stated the decision was taken “voluntarily” following a suggestion from the Congress high command, signalling a leadership transition in the state.
At a press conference, Siddaramaiah said, “I have resigned voluntarily. There is no pressure on me,” adding that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) would determine the next Chief Minister. He also declined an offer from the party leadership to move to the Rajya Sabha, saying, “The high command said I should go to Rajya Sabha, but I told them I will remain in Karnataka politics. I will continue active politics till my last breath.”
The outgoing Chief Minister committed to continuing his political engagement in the state, aiming to complete his term as decided by the mandate. “People have elected me for five years. I will keep fighting against criminal forces,” he said. He expressed gratitude towards senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge for allowing him to serve twice as Chief Minister and emphasised his political journey was rooted in constitutional values and public trust. “I bow to the Constitution and Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he added.
Siddaramaiah highlighted his government's achievements, noting nearly 300 of more than 550 promises made in 2023 had been fulfilled, alongside 158 of 163 promises from 2013. He touted Karnataka’s strong economic indicators, including being second in GST collection and an 8.1 per cent growth rate, despite revenue constraints. He attributed revenue deficits in part to delayed central funds such as GST compensation.
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson NV Subhash responded by accusing the Congress Party of governance failure and internal power struggles. He stated, “This is nothing but the failure of the Congress Party… the Congress party have cheated the people of Karnataka because they have given a lot of promises, false hopes for development, but from past many years.” Subhash further alleged that leadership disputes, particularly involving DK Shivakumar and his ambition for the Chief Minister post, had destabilised governance.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla remarked on Siddaramaiah’s resignation, saying, “Today, Siddaramaiah has resigned with such a sorrowful heart that sadness was visible on his face. Money had overshadowed popularity. People are saying this… Rahul Gandhi was lecturing about the caste census for a long time. Now, when I look at the list of Congress chief ministers, I don’t see anyone from the OBC community. Here, our Prime Minister is from the OBC community, and we have chief ministers from every community too.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and BJP member Chalavadi Narayanaswamy suggested there should have been a Dalit Chief Minister in Karnataka and cautioned of possible unrest among Dalit leaders following the leadership change.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary K C Venugopal described Siddaramaiah’s tenure as one of “transformative growth” and called the resignation a “selfless decision” made in the party’s interest. Karnataka Legislative Council Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed confirmed the resignation was carried out following the high command's directive and that the next Chief Minister would be decided by the CLP and AICC.
Congress leader Ajay Singh praised Siddaramaiah as one of the longest-serving Karnataka Chief Ministers who had consistently maintained party discipline. He said, “One of the longest serving chief ministers of Karnataka across all three parties, Mr Siddaramaiah, has tendered his resignation. It is a sad day for all legislators. Since day one, he has been saying that the day the party high command asks him to resign, he will do so. Congress President and LoP Rahul Gandhi told him that he has to resign to make way for a new CM. Without batting an eyelid, he resigned.” Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury welcomed the leadership change as a “step forward” and praised both Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for continuity in governance and organisational strength.
CPI General Secretary D Raja said the leadership transition reflected a long-standing internal arrangement within the Congress, adding, “The tussle between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah was going on for a long time. In rotation, this Chief Minister’s post should be held by those two, but it was going on, the tussle, and the Congress party had to intervene. Finally, we are given to understand Siddaramaiah is resigning, and Shivakumar will take over. Let us see how that government is going to function in the coming days. That’s what one should keep watch on the government.” Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey commented that, with a majority government in Karnataka, the Congress was expected to ensure smooth continuity and highlighted Shivakumar’s organisational strength as important for the next phase.
A special flight carrying Siddaramaiah, AICC General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, and state ministers was diverted to Jaipur instead of Delhi due to adverse weather, according to the Chief Minister’s Office. The Governor’s office had yet to accept the resignation as Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot was out of town.
The Congress leadership is anticipated to announce the next Chief Minister soon, marking a significant political transition in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah served two terms as Chief Minister, first from 2013 to 2018 and then, following the 2023 assembly election victory by the Indian National Congress, was sworn in for a second term. He became Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister, surpassing the record set by D Devaraj Urs.