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    EYE ON INDIA                                                             JUNE 05, 2026     |  The Indian Eye                    8

                Siddaramaiah’s next political chapter

                     begins after exit as Karnataka CM

               Even after stepping down as Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah appears determined to

            remain the Congress party’s central political force in the state rather than shift to national politics

            OUR BUREAU
            Bengaluru / New Delhi

                   Siddaramaiah’s resignation as Karnataka
                   Chief Minister marks the end of a signifi-
            K cant phase in state politics, but not the end
            of his political relevance. If anything, the develop-
            ments surrounding his exit suggest that the veteran
            Congress leader is preparing for a new role — one
            that could allow him to retain influence over Kar-
            nataka politics while shaping the Congress party’s
            future direction in the state.
                The resignation came after weeks of specula-
            tion about a leadership transition within the Con-
            gress government. Following discussions with the
            party high command, Siddaramaiah submitted his
            resignation to the Governor’s office, insisting that
            the decision was taken “voluntarily” and in keeping
            with constitutional and party processes.
                “I have resigned voluntarily. There is no pres-
            sure on me,” Siddaramaiah said while addressing
            the media. He repeatedly emphasised that the Con-  Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah join hands with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara during
            gress leadership and the Congress Legislature Party                  a press conference, in Bengaluru on Thursday. (ANI Photo)
            would decide the next Chief Minister.
                The  political  significance  of  the  resignation   He also defended the state government’s eco-  taken in the party’s interest, while Congress MP Re-
            lies not merely in the transfer of power, reportedly   nomic performance, arguing that Karnataka re-  nuka Chowdhury called the leadership change “a
            to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, but in   mains “number two in GST collection” with an “8.1   step forward.”
            the manner in which Siddaramaiah has positioned   per cent” growth rate despite financial pressures.  The larger question now is whether Siddaramaiah
            himself after stepping down. Rather than accepting   By foregrounding governance achievements   and DK Shivakumar can maintain political balance
            a transition to national politics through the Rajya   and welfare delivery, Siddaramaiah appears keen to   after the transition. The symbolism surrounding his
            Sabha, he made it clear that Karnataka remains his   protect his political legacy while ensuring that the   resignation also matters politically. DK Shivakumar
            political battlefield.                       Congress continues to benefit electorally from poli-  visiting Siddaramaiah’s residence and paying re-
                “The high command said I should go to Rajya   cies associated with him personally.     spects was widely interpreted as a public gesture of
            Sabha, but I told them I will remain in Karnataka   His emphasis on social justice and constitu-  continuity and reconciliation. The Congress appears
            politics. I will continue active politics till my last   tional politics was equally important. “I bow to the   aware that any perception of factional warfare could
            breath,” he said.                            Constitution and Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he said,   weaken the government ahead of future elections.
                That statement is perhaps the clearest indica-  while recalling his journey from a farmer’s family to   For Siddaramaiah personally, the way forward
            tion of Siddaramaiah’s future strategy. At nearly   becoming Chief Minister twice.         is  likely  to  involve  becoming  a  mentor-like  figure
            80, he appears unwilling to move into a ceremonial   That messaging reinforces Siddaramaiah’s   while remaining electorally influential. He may not
            or advisory role. Instead, he is signalling that he in-  long-standing political image as a leader rooted in   hold executive office, but he could continue shaping
            tends to remain an active power centre within Kar-  backward class politics and welfare-oriented gov-  candidate selection, policy priorities and caste equa-
            nataka Congress politics, even without holding the   ernance. For the Congress, his continued presence   tions within the Karnataka Congress.
            Chief Minister’s office.                     may help preserve its social coalition in Karnataka,   His own remarks suggest that he views politics
                This approach carries both opportunities and   especially at a time when the BJP is attempting to   less as a pursuit of office and more as a long-term
            challenges for the Congress party.           expand support among OBC communities.         ideological and social mission. “I have never chased
                On one hand, Siddaramaiah leaves office with   BJP  leaders  immediately  attempted  to  frame   money or property. I have been in politics for nearly
            substantial political capital. He remains one of Kar-  the resignation as evidence of internal instability.   50 years,” he said.
            nataka’s most influential mass leaders, particularly   BJP spokesperson NV Subhash alleged that the   The resignation therefore does not appear to be a
            among  backward classes,  minorities  and  welfare   Congress government had been weakened by “in-  political retirement. Instead, it marks a transition from
            beneficiaries. During his resignation speech, he re-  ternal power struggles,” while Shehzad Poonawalla   administrative leadership to political stewardship.
            peatedly highlighted his government’s welfare pro-  claimed that “money had overshadowed popularity.”  Whether Siddaramaiah can successfully play
            grammes and developmental achievements.          Yet the Congress leadership has attempted to   that role without overshadowing the new leadership
                “In 2023, we made over 550 promises and have   present the transition as orderly and consensual.   will determine not only his own legacy, but also the
            fulfilled 300 so far. All five guarantee schemes were   AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal described   stability and future direction of the Congress gov-
            implemented in the first year,” he said.     Siddaramaiah’s resignation as a “selfless decision”   ernment in Karnataka.

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