Siddaramaiah resigns as Karnataka CM, to continue as caretaker till transition

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday accepted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation, formally ending his second term in office and making way for a leadership transition in the Congress-led state government.

The Raj Bhavan confirmed that the existing Council of Ministers stands dissolved. However, Siddaramaiah will continue as caretaker chief minister until the Congress finalises and swears in a new leader.

The resignation follows intense consultations within the Congress leadership over a planned power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is widely expected to take over as chief minister.

On Thursday morning, Siddaramaiah held a farewell breakfast meeting with cabinet colleagues and party leaders at his official residence in Bengaluru. During the meeting, he informed ministers that he was stepping down in accordance with the Congress high command’s directive.

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In a symbolic moment ahead of the transition, Shivakumar sought Siddaramaiah’s blessings by touching his feet before the two leaders embraced in front of party workers and media personnel.

As Governor Gehlot was in Indore at the time, Siddaramaiah later submitted his resignation letter to the Governor’s Special Secretary, Prabhushankar, at Lok Bhavan.

Addressing reporters afterward, Siddaramaiah said he was leaving office with a “clean conscience” and reiterated that he had always prioritised party discipline over personal ambition.

“The high command directed me to step down, and accordingly, I submitted my resignation,” he said. “I have never run after power or money.”

The veteran Congress leader also dismissed speculation about retiring from active politics, saying he would continue to remain politically active in Karnataka.

“My political career spanning 50 years is an open book. I will stay in Karnataka and continue to work for social justice and against communal forces,” Siddaramaiah said.

Congress leaders are expected to hold a Legislature Party meeting over the weekend to formally elect the next chief minister. While Shivakumar remains the frontrunner, the transition is being closely managed by the party’s central leadership to avoid factional tensions within the state unit.

Political observers say the new leadership will have to maintain the coalition of minorities, backward classes and Dalits built by Siddaramaiah while balancing governance, welfare spending and development priorities ahead of the 2028 assembly elections.

Siddaramaiah’s exit marks the end of a significant political chapter in Karnataka, where he emerged as one of the Congress party’s strongest mass leaders and longest-serving chief ministers.