The outgoing Karnataka chief minister said he would continue serving as an MLA
May 28, 2026: Siddaramaiah on Thursday revealed that the Congress leadership had offered to move him to the Rajya Sabha after his resignation as Chief Minister of Karnataka, but he declined the proposal as he wanted to continue in state politics. Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation to the governor’s office, Siddaramaiah said he was “not interested in national politics” and wished to remain connected with the people of Karnataka. He added that he still has two years remaining as an MLA and would continue serving the public in active politics.
During the press conference, Siddaramaiah was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who is widely expected to succeed him as the next chief minister. However, Siddaramaiah refrained from naming his preferred successor and said the final decision would be taken by the Congress high command and the Congress Legislature Party. He confirmed that his resignation letter had been submitted to the office of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is currently out of Bengaluru.
Reflecting on his political journey, Siddaramaiah said he never imagined rising from a rural background to become an MLA, minister and chief minister. He reiterated his commitment to social justice, welfare politics and constitutional values, saying he would continue fighting against communal politics throughout his life. The veteran Congress leader also defended the government’s welfare schemes and maintained that he had never compromised on his ideology or entered politics for personal gain.