Siddaramaiah quits as Karnataka CM, but Governor’s absence adds twist

Resignation submitted at Raj Bhavan

Though Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is currently out of the city, Siddaramaiah formally submitted his resignation at the Governor’s House in Bengaluru.

Fresh political drama unfolds

In a fresh twist to the political transition, Siddaramaiah will now have to wait for the Governor’s return for the resignation to be formally accepted.

Earlier on Thursday, Siddaramaiah announced his decision to step down, signalling a major leadership transition in the Congress-ruled state and bringing an apparent end to the prolonged tussle with deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar.

Breakfast meeting seals decision

According to reports, Siddaramaiah conveyed his decision during a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar at the former's residence in Bengaluru.

The development comes after two days of intense deliberations involving the Congress high command in New Delhi.

Congress leadership backs transition

The Congress leadership reportedly favoured Siddaramaiah’s exit from the Chief Minister’s post and offered a compensation package that includes a Rajya Sabha berth for the veteran leader and a cabinet position for his son Yathindra.

Power struggle dates back to 2023 polls

Following Congress’s emphatic victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar had staked claim to the Chief Minister’s chair.

After days of negotiations, the party eventually picked Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister.

Rotational formula speculation resurfaces

Reports at the time had suggested that Shivakumar agreed to the arrangement after the Congress leadership worked out an informal rotational formula under which Siddaramaiah would serve as Chief Minister for the first two-and-a-half years before Shivakumar potentially took over for the remainder of the term.

However, the Congress has never officially confirmed the existence of any such agreement.