Bengaluru: Siddaramaiah on Thursday ruled out any possibility of entering national politics after stepping down as Karnataka chief minister, stating that he had declined an offer from the Congress high command to move to the Rajya Sabha. The veteran Congress leader said he remains committed to Karnataka politics and will continue to stay active in public life.
Speaking to reporters shortly after submitting his resignation, Siddaramaiah dismissed speculation about a possible political shift to Delhi following his exit from the top post in the state government.
Siddaramaiah says no to Rajya Sabha
Clarifying his political future, Siddaramaiah revealed that the Congress leadership had approached him regarding a Rajya Sabha role. However, he said he rejected the proposal immediately.
“I have no interest in national politics. I am interested only in state politics,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
He further added that the high command had asked him to move to the Rajya Sabha, but he declined the offer outright. “High command asked me to go to Rajya Sabha. I said I won’t go,” he said.
The statement effectively ended speculation that the Congress party might rehabilitate him at the national level after his resignation as chief minister.
Resignation followed high command’s direction
Siddaramaiah confirmed that his resignation came after instructions from the Congress leadership. According to him, the decision was taken after discussions held over the past few days.
“I have told you many times, whenever the high command asks me to resign, I will resign,” he stated.
The Congress veteran further disclosed that the leadership had informed him two days earlier about stepping down from the post. “Two days ago, the high command asked me to step down. I told them I would resign today. Accordingly, I have resigned,” he added.
His comments indicated that the leadership transition was coordinated internally within the party rather than triggered by any sudden political crisis.
Governor to process resignation formally
Siddaramaiah also informed reporters that his resignation letter had been submitted to the office of Thaawarchand Gehlot as the Governor was not present in Bengaluru at the time.
“Governor is not here. He is expected to return tonight. The resignation letter has been given to his office and secretary,” he said.
Expressing confidence over the constitutional process, Siddaramaiah said the Governor was expected to accept the resignation and facilitate the appointment of the next chief minister.
“Once a chief minister resigns, the Governor has to accept it and make way for the new CM. It is his responsibility,” he remarked.
Congress government remains stable, says Siddaramaiah
Rejecting suggestions of instability within the ruling government, Siddaramaiah asserted that the Congress still enjoys a comfortable majority in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
“Our party has 136 MLAs and two independents are supporting us. We have a full majority,” he said.
The outgoing chief minister’s remarks appeared aimed at calming speculation surrounding political uncertainty after the leadership change.
Party insiders believe the transition is being managed carefully to avoid factional tensions within the Karnataka Congress unit.
Reflects on political journey
Speaking emotionally about his long political career, Siddaramaiah thanked the Congress leadership for the opportunities given to him since he joined the party in 2006.
“I got an opportunity to serve seven crore people. Twice I became chief minister and twice I served as Leader of Opposition,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude towards senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for their support throughout his political journey.
Siddaramaiah added that he continues to believe in the social justice ideals of Buddha, Basava and Ambedkar, stressing the importance of equitable distribution of wealth among all sections of society.
Conclusion
With his resignation now submitted, Siddaramaiah has made it clear that he intends to remain a key figure in Karnataka politics rather than transition to national politics through the Rajya Sabha. Even after stepping down as chief minister, the Congress veteran signalled that he will continue to play an active role in public and political affairs within the state.