Bengaluru: In a major political development in Karnataka, veteran Congress leader Siddaramaiah resigned from the post of Chief Minister on Friday, marking the end of another significant chapter in his long political journey.
Addressing the media in an emotional press conference, Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge for the trust and opportunities given to him throughout his political career.
“I express my gratitude to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. They made me Chief Minister twice and also gave me the opportunity to serve as the Leader of Opposition,” Siddaramaiah said.
He confirmed that he had submitted his resignation to the Governor’s office in Bengaluru. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is currently out of the state and is expected to return later tonight. Until then, the resignation remains pending formal acceptance.
“I have submitted my resignation to the Governor’s office. The Governor is not here at the moment and will return tonight, so I have handed over my resignation there,” he stated.
Despite stepping down from the Chief Minister’s post, Siddaramaiah made it clear that he remains committed to public service and the Congress party’s ideology. During his address, the senior leader became emotional while reflecting on political attacks faced by him and his family over the years.
“Not only me, even my family became victims of political hatred. False allegations were made even against my wife, who stayed away from politics and devoted herself entirely to family responsibilities. At one point, my mind was deeply hurt, and I even thought of taking political sanyasa. But my conscience told me not to step back from the path of public service,” he said.
Siddaramaiah also defended his government’s performance, particularly the implementation of Congress guarantees in Karnataka. He stated that his administration sincerely worked to fulfill promises made to the people.
“We have made a sincere effort to fulfill the promises given to the people of Karnataka. We have not broken our word. That gives satisfaction to both me and our party,” he said.
Responding to criticism from the opposition, Siddaramaiah said misinformation had been spread regarding the state’s finances and development.
“They claimed Karnataka’s treasury would become empty after implementing guarantees. But today, Karnataka stands among the top states in the country in revenue generation and GST collection,” he added.
Soon after the resignation announcement, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Cabinet Minister KJ George, HK Patil and several Congress ministers and MLAs stood alongside Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru, projecting unity and solidarity within the party.
Even after resigning from office, Siddaramaiah continues to be regarded as one of the tallest mass leaders of the Congress in Karnataka, with a strong grassroots connect and decades of political influence across the state.
Report by Hrithik Saini
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