Siddaramaiah resigns as Karnataka CM; BJP says 'Congress collapse certain'
Synopsis
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's resignation has handed the BJP a ready-made political narrative — 'Congress is a sinking ship.' With the CLP yet to name a successor and Siddaramaiah declining a national role, the Congress faces a high-stakes succession that could define its credibility as a governing party ahead of future state elections.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor's Secretary on 28 May 2025 .
BJP MPs Praveen Khandelwal, Dinesh Sharma, and Kamaljeet Sehrawat attacked the Congress, calling it a 'sinking ship' riven by factionalism.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma alleged corruption under Siddaramaiah and predicted D.
Shivakumar would continue the same pattern.
Siddaramaiah confirmed he was offered a national political role by the Congress high command but declined.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and party high command will decide the next Karnataka Chief Minister.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor's Secretary on Thursday, 28 May, triggering a sharp political offensive from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose leaders declared that the 'collapse of the Congress is certain' and pointed to the development as evidence of deep factionalism within the party.
BJP's Reaction to the Resignation
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said there is 'something wrong going on in the Congress' and described the party as 'a sinking ship that no one wants to stay on for long.' He argued that resignations — whether from posts or the party itself — signal a fundamental crisis of confidence within the organisation.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma went further, labelling the outgoing Karnataka government one of 'loot.' He alleged that 'corruption was being done by Siddaramaiah' and claimed that Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar would 'complete whatever was left incomplete.' Sharma also predicted that under Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's stewardship, the Congress would 'register its 100th defeat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.'
Factionalism Charge and Leadership Critique
BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat alleged that 'factionalism' within the Congress is reflected in its inability to win state elections and its failure to focus on public welfare. She accused Rahul Gandhi of being 'careless about his party,' adding: 'The people of Karnataka are suffering due to Rahul Gandhi's carelessness. There cannot be a bigger drawback than this for a national political party, which is unable to keep its leaders united.'
Not all BJP voices struck the same combative note. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari offered a more measured line, saying: 'It is their party, their government, they will decide it' — suggesting the party prefers to let the Congress manage its own succession optics.
What Siddaramaiah Said
After submitting his resignation, Siddaramaiah stated that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and the party high command would take the final call on the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. He also confirmed that during discussions with the Congress high command in Delhi, he was offered a role in national politics — an offer he said he politely declined.
What Happens Next
The CLP meeting is expected to determine the succession, with D. K. Shivakumar widely regarded as the frontrunner. The transition comes amid a broader national conversation about Congress's ability to hold power in states it governs, and whether internal power-sharing arrangements can be managed without public fractures. This is not the first time a Congress-ruled state has faced a mid-term leadership contest, and how Karnataka is handled will be closely watched ahead of upcoming state elections across India.
Point of View
Not promotions. If the CLP succession triggers visible street-level dissent, the BJP's 'sinking ship' line will write itself into the 2028 Karnataka election campaign.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Siddaramaiah resign as Karnataka Chief Minister?
Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor's Secretary on 28 May 2025. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and the party high command are expected to decide on the next Chief Minister, suggesting the move is part of an internal leadership transition rather than a no-confidence scenario.
Who is likely to be the next Karnataka Chief Minister?
Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar is widely regarded as the frontrunner to succeed Siddaramaiah. The final decision rests with the Congress Legislature Party meeting and the party high command.
What did Siddaramaiah say about a national role?
Siddaramaiah confirmed that the Congress high command offered him a role in national politics during discussions in Delhi, but he said he politely declined the proposal.
What is the BJP's position on Siddaramaiah's resignation?
BJP leaders called the resignation proof of deep factionalism and predicted the 'collapse of the Congress.' MPs Praveen Khandelwal, Dinesh Sharma, and Kamaljeet Sehrawat each criticised the Congress leadership, while MP Manoj Tiwari took a more neutral line, saying the party would decide its own affairs.
What does this mean for Congress's national standing?
The mid-term leadership change in Karnataka — a state Congress governs — gives the BJP ammunition to question the party's governance stability. With Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, any visible state-level fracture carries national political weight.
