Siddaramaiah's flight diverted to Jaipur amid Delhi weather chaos
Synopsis
Siddaramaiah's charter flight was forced to land in Jaipur on the same night he resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister — a weather disruption that coincided with one of the most politically charged days of his tenure. Multiple Delhi-bound flights were rerouted as dust storms battered the capital, while back home, the Congress scrambled to name his successor.
Key Takeaways
Siddaramaiah 's charter flight was diverted to Jaipur International Airport on 28 May due to adverse weather over Delhi-NCR .
He was accompanied by nine people , including Karnataka Minister K.J.
George and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala .
At least four other flights — including AI-1837 , IX-1671 , AI-278 , and 6E-6150 — were also diverted to Jaipur.
Siddaramaiah had resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister earlier on Thursday, stating the decision was entirely voluntary.
The Congress Legislature Party and High Command will decide the next Chief Minister; D.K.
Shivakumar is widely seen as the frontrunner.
Karnataka outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's charter flight was diverted to Jaipur International Airport late Thursday, 28 May, after severe weather — including dust storms, strong winds, and sharply reduced visibility — disrupted flight operations across the Delhi-NCR region. The diversion came hours after Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation as Chief Minister, making the unplanned landing in Rajasthan a fitting backdrop to an already turbulent political day.
The Diversion
Siddaramaiah was travelling from Bengaluru to Delhi when deteriorating conditions at Indira Gandhi International Airport prompted authorities to reroute the charter aircraft to Jaipur. The flight landed safely, and security arrangements at the airport were promptly reinforced. The Chief Minister was accompanied by nine people, including Karnataka Minister K.J. George and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala.
Scale of Disruptions at Jaipur Airport
Siddaramaiah's was not the only flight rerouted. Air India flight AI-1837 from Coimbatore to Delhi was among the first diversions, followed by Air India Express flight IX-1671 from Mumbai, Air India's international Colombo-Delhi service AI-278, and IndiGo flight 6E-6150 from Guwahati. The sudden surge in aircraft activity triggered heightened coordination between airport authorities and Air Traffic Control to manage safe landings and passenger welfare through the night.
What the Meteorological Department Said
According to the Meteorological Department, a combination of strong winds, dust storms, and reduced visibility over the Delhi-NCR region forced airlines to treat Jaipur as an alternate landing hub. Officials made arrangements for passenger safety and convenience during the unplanned overnight stay. Flight operations to Delhi were expected to resume once visibility improved.
Siddaramaiah's Resignation and What Comes Next
The diversion unfolded against a charged political backdrop. Siddaramaiah resigned from the Chief Ministership on Thursday, triggering speculation about Karnataka's next leader. Speaking at a press conference alongside Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister G. Parameshwara, he was emphatic that the decision was entirely voluntary and made without external pressure.
'I will remain in state politics. The people have elected me for five years, and two years are still left. Till then, I will work for the people of Karnataka and for the people of my constituency,' he said. He also pledged to stay active and 'fight communal forces.'
The Congress Legislature Party, in consultation with the party's High Command, will determine the next Chief Minister, according to party sources. With D.K. Shivakumar widely seen as the frontrunner, the succession contest is expected to move quickly in the days ahead.
Point of View
Given the timing and the High Command's known preference for managed transitions. The real story now is the succession: with two years left in the term and D.K. Shivakumar waiting in the wings, the Congress faces the familiar challenge of managing a state leadership change without fracturing its coalition ahead of local elections. Siddaramaiah's pledge to 'fight communal forces' from the backbench signals he intends to remain a power centre — which could complicate whoever sits in the CM's chair next.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Siddaramaiah's flight diverted to Jaipur?
Siddaramaiah's Bengaluru-to-Delhi charter flight was diverted to Jaipur International Airport on 28 May due to severe weather — including dust storms, strong winds, and reduced visibility — over the Delhi-NCR region. The aircraft landed safely, and security at Jaipur Airport was reinforced.
Why did Siddaramaiah resign as Karnataka Chief Minister?
Siddaramaiah resigned on Thursday, 28 May, stating the decision was entirely voluntary and made without any external pressure. He addressed a press conference alongside Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister G. Parameshwara after submitting his resignation to the Governor's Secretary.
Who will be Karnataka's next Chief Minister?
The Congress Legislature Party, in consultation with the party's High Command, will decide the next Chief Minister, according to party sources. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is widely considered the frontrunner for the post.
Which other flights were diverted to Jaipur due to Delhi weather?
At least four other flights were rerouted to Jaipur: Air India flight AI-1837 from Coimbatore, Air India Express flight IX-1671 from Mumbai, Air India's international Colombo-Delhi service AI-278, and IndiGo flight 6E-6150 from Guwahati. Airport authorities and Air Traffic Control coordinated closely to manage the surge.
What did Siddaramaiah say about his political future?
Siddaramaiah said he would remain active in Karnataka state politics, pledging to work for the people of his constituency for the remaining two years of the elected term. He also said he would continue to fight communal forces.
