Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday, 29 May formally accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and dissolved the Council of Ministers headed by him, invoking Article 164(1) of the Constitution of India. Siddaramaiah had submitted his resignation letter to the Governor's office on 28 May, bringing the curtain down on his tenure as the state's longest-serving Chief Minister.

The Governor's Order

In the official proceedings issued on 29 May, Governor Gehlot stated: 'In exercise of the powers vested in me under Article 164(1) of the Constitution of India, I, Thaawarchand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka, hereby accept the resignation of Shri Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister of Karnataka. Consequently, the Council of Ministers headed by him stands dissolved.'

In a separate communication addressed directly to Siddaramaiah, the Governor said: 'I have accepted the resignation tendered by you with immediate effect. Until alternative arrangements are made, kindly continue as caretaker Chief Minister. It is needless to state that no executive decisions shall be taken during this period.'

Siddaramaiah's Resignation and What He Said

Siddaramaiah's brief resignation letter read: 'I hereby tender my resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Kindly accept it.' Speaking at a press conference before the formal acceptance, he said the Congress high command had directed him to step down two days prior and that he had always committed — both inside and outside the Assembly — to resigning whenever the high command so directed.

Visibly emotional, Siddaramaiah maintained that the party retained the support of 138 MLAs and that the government continued to command a full majority in the state legislature. 'The Governor must now provide an opportunity to the next Chief Minister to form the government,' he said.

The Governor's Absence and Political Speculation

The resignation proceedings unfolded against a backdrop of political intrigue. Governor Gehlot had left Bengaluru late on Wednesday night, travelling first to Mumbai and then to Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. The Governor's office cited a family medical emergency as the reason for his sudden departure, though the timing — coinciding with escalating political drama over the Chief Minister's position — triggered intense speculation across Karnataka.

Since the Governor was not in Bengaluru when Siddaramaiah arrived at Lok Bhavan on Thursday, the resignation letter was submitted to the Governor's Secretary. R. Prabhu Shankar, Special Secretary to the Governor, subsequently forwarded a copy of the Governor's notification dated 29 May to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, confirming the acceptance of the resignation and dissolution of the Cabinet.

What Happens Next

Siddaramaiah will continue in a caretaker capacity until the Congress high command finalises and the Governor swears in a successor. The party's legislative majority appears intact, according to Siddaramaiah, meaning a floor test is not expected to be required. The focus now shifts to who the Indian National Congress will name as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, a decision that rests with the party's central leadership.