'Karnataka politics over RS seat': No nataka, only hugs and tears between Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Drawing the curtains on a political career spanning nearly five decades, Siddaramaiah quietly resigned as Karnataka chief minister Thursday, ending months of speculation over a leadership change and clearing the path for KPCC chief D K Shivakumar to take charge, though the Congress is yet to formally announce a successor.

At a breakfast meeting hosted for cabinet colleagues earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah informed ministers about his decision to step down and indicated that Shivakumar would succeed him in line with directions from the Congress high command, according to senior ministers present at the meeting.



However, Siddaramaiah publicly avoided naming his successor at his farewell press conference, keeping the suspense alive even as Shivakumar sat beside him smiling through the interaction. “Whoever the legislature party and the high command decide will be the CM ,” Siddaramaiah said. Asked about Shivakumar becoming CM, Shivakumar’s brother and former Congress MP D K Suresh added, “Let us wait for the party’s decision.”

The Congress high command is expected to convene a Congress Legislature Party meeting in Bengaluru after the governor formally accepts the resignation, likely on Friday, to elect the new leader.

Siddaramaiah also earlier revealed that he had declined the Congress leadership’s offer of a national role through the Rajya Sabha. “The high command asked me to go to the Rajya Sabha. I declined it humbly. I am not interested in national politics. I will remain in state politics. The people have elected me for five years, and two years are still left. Till then, I will work for the people of Karnataka and for the people of my constituency,” he said.
Party insiders, however, said the leadership may still try to persuade Siddaramaiah to reconsider, as June 8 is the last date for Rajya Sabha nominations.

Siddaramaiah visited Lok Bhavan around 3pm and submitted his resignation. Since governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot was out of Bengaluru, he handed over the resignation letter to the governor’s special secretary Prabhu Shankar. “I am confident the governor will accept my resignation as per constitutional provisions,” Siddaramaiah said at his post-resignation press conference.

Rejecting suggestions that he was forced to quit, Siddaramaiah said, “What pressure? I voluntarily resigned immediately after they asked me to. I am leaving office with a clean conscience.”

‘My 50 yrs in politics is an open book’

Thanking the Congress leadership for giving him the opportunity to serve two terms as CM, Siddaramaiah said he never compromised on ideology or values during his political career. “I have never run after power or money. I never thought of accumulating wealth. My political career of 50 years is an open book,” he said.

Siddaramaiah reiterated he had always maintained he would step down whenever directed by the party high command. Later in the evening, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar left for New Delhi to meet Congress leadership.

According to party sources, discussions are expected on the election of the new CLP leader, cabinet composition and the future of Kar-nataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief’s post, currently held by Shivakumar.
AICC functionaries in Delhi in-dicated that clarity on the transition and the structure of the new govt is likely within the next couple of days.