Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday (May 29, 2026) accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who will now continue to be caretaker Chief Minister till his successor is appointed. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will succeed Mr. Siddaramaiah. A communication from Lok Bhavan said that the resignation has been accepted and the Council of Ministers headed by Mr. Siddaramaiah has been dissolved.
Mr. Siddaramaiah tendered his one-line resignation to the special secretary of the Governor on Thursday (May 28, 2026), in the absence of Mr. Gehlot, who was away in Indore for personal reasons.
Mr. Siddaramaiah met Rahul Gandhi at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence on Friday morning. He was accompanied by his son Yathindra.
Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on May 29, 2026, said no decision had yet been taken regarding the formation of the new Cabinet in the state, adding that a Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting had been convened for May 30.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Shivakumar said discussions with the Congress high command were still underway and all party MLAs had been asked to remain present in Bengaluru for the meeting.
“Everything is happening as requested by the high command. Nothing has been decided. Tomorrow we have called the CLP meeting, our central leaders have to come. We have to discuss with our high command. We have asked all MLAs to be present in Bengaluru. Apart from that, nothing else is there,” said Shivakumar.
A high-level meeting of senior Congress leaders, including outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior leaders DK Shivakumar and KJ George, was held in New Delhi to discuss the formation of the new government in Karnataka. Shivakumar also met other leaders of the Congress in a hotel in the national capital, earlier in the day.
The Karnataka Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has called for a meeting on May 30 at 4 pm amid ongoing efforts to formalise the leadership transition in the State following the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
According to a letter issued by CLP Secretary Allamaprabhu Patil on May 29, the meeting will be held at the ‘Sammelana Sabhangana’ (conference hall), Room No 334, on the third floor of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
The meeting will be chaired by Mr. Siddaramaiah in his capacity as leader of the Congress Legislature Party.
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D.K. Shivakumar praises Siddaramaiah's leadership, highlighting his resilience and commitment to social justice.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed gratitude for Siddaramaiah’s contribution to public life.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Mr. Siddaramaiah has consistently reflected dignity, compassion, and a deep commitment to social justice.
“From humble beginnings to serving Karnataka twice as Chief Minister, he remained steadfast in his commitment to equality, harmony, and the welfare of the marginalised.
“Karnataka and the Congress party remain grateful for his contribution to public life. Wishing him good health and the very best in his continued service to the people.”
Karnataka Minister H.K. Patil said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting will be held on Saturday (May 30) and asserted that all issues within the party had been resolved following the resignation of Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister.
Patil said the CLP meeting was scheduled for May 30 at 4 pm and expressed confidence that the transition in leadership would strengthen the party.“CLP meeting will be held tomorrow (30th May) at 4 pm,” Patil said.
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s manifold contributions to the development of Karnataka will endure, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Friday.
In a post on X, Mr. Ramesh said, “Siddaramaiah avaru has been a hugely dominant figure in Karnataka’s politics for over four decades, which is a stupendous achievement in itself. He has presented 17 Budgets in the State, just one less than the record set by Vajubhai Vala in Gujarat and one more than the feat accomplished by Dr. Asim Dasgupta in West Bengal. Each of his 17 Budgets was noteworthy and impactful.”
The dignity with which he has been participating in the transition of power in the State has enhanced his stature immeasurably, his post said.
“Apart from the making of Budgets and his mastery over administration, Siddaramaiah avaru has been a fierce champion of social justice and empowerment, an uncompromising upholder of secular values and traditions, and a forceful voice for rationality and scientific temper. He has been a true mass leader in the full and best sense of the term. Eloquent in speech, his stinging wit directed at his political opponents was always effective. His manifold contributions to the development of Karnataka will endure.”
Residents of Siddaramanahundi mourn Siddaramaiah's resignation, expressing disappointment and support for his leadership and contributions.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who on Thursday resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister, said he would continue to remain active in State politics and had no interest in moving to national politics.
Addressing a press conference after submitting his resignation, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Congress high command had offered him a Rajya Sabha seat, which he declined. “I politely declined the offer as I have no interest in national politics,” he said.
He added that he would continue as an MLA, noting that the people had elected him for a five-year term. “I will continue to fight communal forces in the State,” he said.
Congress's Karnataka leadership change may guide the party in resolving future chief ministerial disputes amid internal rivalries.
A day after resigning as the chief minister of Karnataka, Congress leader Siddaramaiah met Rahul Gandhi at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence on Friday morning.
He was accompanied by his son Yathindra.
The meeting is seen as significant because Mr. Siddaramaiah will discuss his future course with the Congress leadership, after having already declined a Rajya Sabha seat.
Mr. Siddaramaiah has also said that he wants to remain in Karnataka and is not keen on a central role, which the party high command had suggested to him.
Sources said Mr. Siddaramaiah only met Rahul Gandhi, as Sonia Gandhi was not present during the meeting.
Mr. Siddaramaiah thanked Rahul Gandhi for giving him an opportunity to serve the state and informed him that he had resigned from the chief minister’s post as asked, the sources said.
Mr. Siddaramaiah is also likely to seek a berth for his son and loyalists in the new Karnataka Cabinet, including the post of deputy Chief Minister, they said.
According to the sources, Mr. Siddaramaiah later met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and discussed the new government formation in Karnataka and his future role in the party.
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala, who was present during Mr. Siddaramaiah’s hour-long meeting with Rahul Gandhi, said, “It was a very pleasant meeting. They discussed multiple issues.” Asked if the transition will be smooth in Karnataka, he said, “Absolutely. There is no hurdle in the smooth tradition of power in the State.” Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Thursday formally accepted Mr. Siddaramaiah’s resignation as the Chief Minister.
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Before stepping down from office on Thursday, Karnataka’s longest-serving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appeared to have decisively debunked a long-standing superstition that Chief Ministers who visit Chamarajanagar lose power.
For decades, successive Chief Ministers had avoided visiting Chamarajanagar town owing to the deeply entrenched belief that a visit would cost them the coveted post. The district’s perceived neglect and backwardness were often attributed to the reluctance of Chief Ministers to visit the region.
Mr. Siddaramaiah, however, consistently dismissed the superstition. Even during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister, he visited Chamarajanagar on several occasions without hesitation and successfully completed his full term in office, thereby demolishing the myth.
During his second tenure too, Mr. Siddaramaiah continued to tour different parts of the district regularly. Last year, he even convened a special Cabinet meeting at M.M. Hills, bringing the government’s focus sharply on development initiatives in the border district.
Siddaramaiah debunks the myth linking visits to Chamarajanagar with losing power before stepping down as Karnataka's Chief Minister.
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday (May 29, 2026) accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who will now continue to be caretaker Chief Minister till his successor is appointed. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will succeed Mr. Siddaramaiah.
A communication from Lok Bhavan said that the resignation has been accepted and the Council of Ministers headed by Mr. Siddaramaiah has been dissolved.
Mr. Siddaramaiah tendered his one-line resignation to the special secretary of the Governor on Thursday (May 28, 2026), in the absence of Mr. Gehlot, who was away in Indore for personal reasons.
Published - May 29, 2026 09:56 am IST
Karnataka / Indian National Congress / Live news
Source: The Hindu - India News
