Leadership change unfolds in Karnataka

Siddaramaiah rejects Rajya Sabha offer, says he prefers remaining in the State to fight communal forces

Ending months of speculation about a leadership change following an intense power tussle with his deputy, DK Shivakumar for the coveted post, Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned as Chief Minister of Karnataka. Announcing his resignation at a packed press conference, the 77-year-old leader asserted that he was demitting office with a clean conscience and thanked his party brass for providing him an opportunity to serve the people for two terms.

Since Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was not in the State Capital, Siddaramaiah handed over his resignation letter to the Governor’s special secretary.

“I have tendered my resignation from the Chief Minister’s post. I am confident the Governor would accept my resignation as per Constitutional provisions,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said he had stated repeatedly that he would resign whenever the high command instructed him.

Shivakumar reached Delhi on Thursday night to meet the Congress high command, hours after Siddaramaiah announced his resignation. Later Siddaramaiah too left for the national Capital to meet the Congress leadership.

Flanked by his successor Shivakumar during the press conference, Siddaramaiah made it clear that he will continue in remain active politics. Noting that the Congress leadership offered him a Rajya Sabha ticket, he said he declined it as he preferred active politics in Karnataka “to fight against communal forces till my last breath”.

“The high command directed me two days ago to step down, and accordingly, I have submitted my resignation today. I got the opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka twice, for which I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge,” Siddaramaiah added.

Asked whether the high command exerted pressure on him, he said, “What pressure? I voluntarily resigned immediately after they asked me to.” He underscored that he was demitting office with a clean conscience.

Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly “spreading misinformation” about the five guarantees of his Government and that its implementation would make Karnataka bankrupt.

Siddaramaiah noted that his Government made 550 promises, of which 300 have been fulfilled so far, including the five pre-poll guarantees. The BJP alleged that such guarantees could not be implemented. It claimed that the State would go bankrupt and that the treasury would become empty.

Party sources said discussions regarding the selection of the new Congress Legislature Party leader, the composition of the new ministry and other organisational matters, including the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president’s post currently held by Shivakumar, were likely to take place during the Delhi visit.

Earlier in the day, during a breakfast meeting hosted at his residence for Cabinet colleagues, Siddaramaiah informed ministers of his decision also to step down and indicated that Shivakumar would succeed him, in line with directions from the Congress high command, according to several ministers who attended the meeting.