Siddaramaiah resigns as Karnataka CM days after Delhi meeting with Congress top brass, says honoured high-command decision

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday tendered his resignation from the post, paving the way for his deputy DK Shivakumar to take over the reins.

Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to Prabhu Shankar, Special Secretary to Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is out of the state.

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“I have given my resignation from the post of chief minister at Raj Bhavan,” Siddaramaiah said during a press conference alongside deputy CM DK Shivakumar and state Home Minister G Parameshwara.

He said the resignation shall be accepted once Governor Gehlot returns later today.

Siddaramaiah thanked the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for giving him the opportunity to lead the state.

“I have kept my word and resigned (as Chief Minister) when the High Command asked me to do so,” said Siddaramaiah.

Reflecting on his tenure as Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah claimed that of 550 promises made, about 300 have been fulfilled so far along with five guarantees.

“Efforts were to fulfill all promises made in the manifesto…. we have not gone back on our words. For me and my party, it was a success,” he said.

Siddaramaiah also alleged misinformation campaign was run against him and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that there won’t be any money left for welfare schemes in Karnataka.

“But after we launched the 5 guarantee scheme, Karnataka is number in per capita income and we are number 2 in the GST collection,” said Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah also dismissed “false and politically’ accusation against him that he is a “loan burden” on the state.

“As a CM and finance minister, I’m accused loan burden on the state. It is false and politically motivated. There are three criteria – fiscal deficit, that should be under 3 per cent. We are under 3 per cent at 2.95 per cent. Debt should be 25 per cent of GSDP,” he said at the press conference.

“We are at 24.94%. There should be surplus should be there. We are in revenue deficit, but that’s because the previous BJP govt has collapsed the economy. Also the finance commission didn’t give us the funds that were entitled,” he added.

The development comes less than 48 hours after a marathon meeting with Congress top brass in New Delhi.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar both went to Delhi earlier this week and met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi.

During the meeting, Siddaramaiah was conveyed that the party is looking for a transition in the state and offered him a Rajya Sabha seat.