Declined Rajya Sabha offer, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah after resigning, DKS likely to succeed him
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has handed over his resignation to the Raj Bhavan, ending speculation about the leadership change in the state.
Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah organised a breakfast meeting at his official residence, Cauvery, Thursday where he invited the entire Cabinet, including his potential replacement D.K. Shivakumar. “He (Siddaramaiah) has conveyed this to the Cabinet, but the meeting is still going on,” an official from the Chief Minister’s Office had confirmed to ThePrint.
Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot left Lok Bhavan for Madhya Pradesh late Wednesday, at about 11.40 pm. On Thursday, he travelled to Indore; it remains unclear when he will return. “We were not informed of the governor’s travel. But this will not matter as we have been called to the Lok Bhavan after 3 pm to submit the resignation,” the official said. Siddaramaiah is expected to submit his resignation to the governor’s private secretary.
“The Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) has called all the ministers for breakfast before he submits his resignation; he wanted to thank them,” Karnataka Minister for Home Affairs and senior Congress leader G. Parameshwara told reporters barely an hour before the breakfast meeting.
Later, the veteran leader made it amply clear that he would not shift his focus away from the state where he has served as the chief minister twice.
“I had said time and again that I will resign whenever high command tells me,” the outgoing chief minister said at a press conference. “I got the opportunity to serve people of Karnataka twice, I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge.”
“They have asked me to Rajya Sabha, I have politely told them no, saying I want to remain in state politics and I am not interested in national politics. I have two more years as an MLA, I will serve my people. I will continue in active politics,” he said. “I have given my resignation on my own accord.”
“Whoever the high command and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chooses will be the CM,” Siddaramaiah said.
“Until my last breath, I will fight against communal forces. Because the Constitution is against all this. If not for the Constitution, I would not be educated; go on to become an MLA, a minister and a CM. I would have remained a shepherd since my parents were uneducated.”
Earlier, ministers and senior Congress leaders attended Siddaramaiah’s breakfast meeting where he conveyed his decision to his Cabinet and party colleagues. Pictures and videos shared by the Chief Minister’s Office show Shivakumar falling at Siddaramaiah’s feet to seek his blessings and the two hugging each other, reinforcing the party’s belief that it would be a smooth transition of power.
Siddaramaiah is also reported to have spent some time privately with Shivakumar, lending credence to the latter’s anointment as the next chief minister. Congress leaders had earlier confirmed that Siddaramaiah was asked to step down by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, but there were no indications they had conveyed any message to Shivakumar, adding to uncertainty.
Several Congress leaders who spoke to ThePrint said that Shivakumar is touted to succeed Siddaramaiah. The Congress party has yet to officially announce Siddaramaiah’s successor.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
Also Read: From shepherd to Karnataka chief minister, again — a look at Siddaramaiah’s political journey
