Siddaramaiah resigns as Karnataka CM, vows to stay in politics till last breath
Synopsis
Siddaramaiah walked out of Karnataka's top office on 28 May — not quietly. Visibly emotional but defiant, he pledged to fight communal forces and protect the Constitution 'till his last breath.' With 138 MLAs behind Congress, the government is stable; the real story now is who steps in next — and whether D.K. Shivakumar finally gets his turn.
Key Takeaways
Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation as Karnataka Chief Minister on 28 May 2025 at Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru .
The resignation was directed by the Congress high command , which asked him to step down two days prior .
Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot was out of Bengaluru; formal acceptance of the resignation was expected the same night.
Siddaramaiah declared he would remain in active politics and continue fighting for the Constitution and against communal forces.
The Congress government retains a majority with 138 MLAs ; the next Chief Minister is expected to be named shortly.
Siddaramaiah thanked Sonia Gandhi , Rahul Gandhi , and Mallikarjun Kharge , recalling his entry into Congress in 2006 after leaving JD(S).
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday, 28 May submitted his resignation from the Chief Minister's post to the Secretary to the Governor at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru, marking the end of weeks of political speculation over a leadership change in the state. Addressing a press conference immediately after, Siddaramaiah declared he would remain in active politics and continue fighting for constitutional values for the rest of his life.
The Resignation
Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, Cabinet ministers, and senior party leaders. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot was not in Bengaluru at the time; officials indicated he would return the same night.
'I have submitted my resignation from the Chief Minister's post to the Governor's Secretary,' Siddaramaiah confirmed. He expressed confidence that the Governor would formally accept the resignation upon returning, stating it was the Governor's constitutional obligation to do so.
Siddaramaiah's Defiant Message
'I will remain in politics till my last breath. I will continue to fight against communal forces because they are against the Constitution. Had the Constitution not existed, I would not have received an education or become a minister and Chief Minister. I would have remained a shepherd,' an emotional Siddaramaiah said.
He further added: 'Till my last breath, I will continue my fight against forces that threaten the Constitution and against communal forces. I will continue my struggle for equality and social justice.'
High Command Directive and Party Majority
Siddaramaiah said the Congress high command had asked him to step down two days ago, and he honoured that directive. He had consistently maintained, both inside and outside the Assembly, that he would resign whenever directed by the party leadership.
He also underlined that the Congress government retains a firm majority in the state, with 138 MLAs backing the party along with additional support. 'The Governor must now provide an opportunity to the next Chief Minister to form the government,' he stated.
Gratitude and Political Legacy
Siddaramaiah expressed heartfelt thanks to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. He recalled that senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel had facilitated his entry into the party in 2006 after he was expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular) and was leading the AHINDA movement.
'I joined the Congress party in 2006. Along with me, eight MLAs joined the Congress party. I am grateful to all those MLAs,' he said. He noted that he had served twice as Chief Minister and twice as Leader of the Opposition, calling voters his 'gods' and the Constitution his 'religion'.
What Comes Next
With Siddaramaiah's departure, attention now shifts to who will succeed him as Karnataka Chief Minister. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is widely seen as the frontrunner, though the Congress high command is expected to make the final call. The transition is set to unfold over the coming days as Governor Gehlot processes the resignation and the party formalises its choice.
Point of View
Publicly, with 138 MLAs still behind the party, signals the transition is choreographed rather than forced. The harder question is whether D.K. Shivakumar, long positioned as heir apparent, can consolidate the coalition Siddaramaiah built around AHINDA communities. Karnataka is a state where Chief Ministers are often defined by their caste arithmetic; the next appointment will signal whether Congress is playing for 2028 or simply settling an internal debt.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Siddaramaiah resign as Karnataka Chief Minister?
Siddaramaiah resigned on 28 May 2025 following a directive from the Congress high command, which asked him to step down two days earlier. He honoured the instruction, as he had repeatedly pledged to do whenever the party leadership asked.
Who is likely to become the next Karnataka Chief Minister?
Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar is widely regarded as the frontrunner to succeed Siddaramaiah. The Congress high command is expected to make the final decision in the coming days.
Does the Congress government in Karnataka still have a majority?
Yes. Siddaramaiah confirmed that Congress has the support of 138 MLAs, along with additional backing, giving the party a full majority in the state Assembly. The government's stability is not in question.
What did Siddaramaiah say about his political future?
Siddaramaiah declared he would remain in active politics 'till my last breath,' pledging to continue fighting against communal forces and for constitutional values, equality, and social justice.
When did Siddaramaiah join the Congress party?
Siddaramaiah joined Congress in 2006 after being expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular). Senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel facilitated a meeting with Sonia Gandhi, after which Siddaramaiah decided to join, bringing eight MLAs with him.
