Siddaramaiah Resigns as Karnataka CM, DK Shivakumar Set to Take Over

Veteran Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister, bringing an end to months of speculation over a leadership change and clearing the way for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to take over the top post in the state.

Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor’s office in Bengaluru, stating that he stepped down following directions from the Congress high command. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot was reportedly out of the city when the resignation was submitted.

“Two days back, the high command asked me to resign. I said I would resign today, and I have done so,” Siddaramaiah told reporters after stepping down.

The Congress leader made it clear that he would continue to remain active in Karnataka politics and had no plans to move to national politics. He also revealed that he had declined an offer for a Rajya Sabha berth. “I have no interest in national politics. I want to remain active in Karnataka politics,” he said.

Siddaramaiah thanked Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge for their support during his political career. He also defended the Congress government’s flagship welfare and guarantee schemes, claiming Karnataka remained financially strong despite Opposition criticism.

“Though they said the guarantee schemes would derail the economy, Karnataka stands number one in per capita income and second in GST collections,” he said.

The outgoing chief minister asserted that the Congress government remained stable and retained full majority support in the Assembly. “Our party has 136 MLAs and we have support from independents. There is no instability,” he said.

With Siddaramaiah stepping down, Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is now set to become the next Chief Minister of Karnataka after years of political ambition and internal power tussles within the party.

Known as a key Congress troubleshooter in Karnataka, Shivakumar has played a major role in managing political crises and strengthening the party organisation in the state. Over the years, he built a reputation for grassroots mobilisation and crisis management, especially during crucial political battles involving Congress governments in different states.

A prominent Vokkaliga leader from Kanakapura, Shivakumar entered politics as a student activist in the 1980s and went on to become one of Karnataka’s longest-serving legislators with eight Assembly victories.

However, his political journey has also been marked by controversies and investigations, including Income Tax raids, Enforcement Directorate cases and allegations linked to disproportionate assets and illegal mining. Shivakumar has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the investigations were politically motivated.

The leadership transition comes nearly three years after Congress returned to power in Karnataka in 2023. Since then, speculation over a power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had continued, though the party leadership never publicly confirmed any rotational chief minister formula.

Political observers believe Shivakumar’s biggest challenge now will be balancing factional interests within the Congress, maintaining the government’s welfare agenda and preparing the party for the next Assembly election. The Congress leadership is expected to formally announce the transition and swear-in schedule shortly.