‘Will keep fighting criminal forces’: Siddaramaiah says he declined Rajya Sabha offer to serve people of Karnataka
Siddaramaiah said that he conveyed to the high command that he is not interested in national politics.
Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that his successor will be chosen by the Congress high-command and legislature party, keeping the suspense over the next CM alive.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru after tendering his resignation, Siddaramaiah said, “I have given my resignation on my own accord. Whoever the high command and legislature party chooses will be the CM of the state.”
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His deputy DK Shivakumar, widely seen as his likely successor, was sitting beside Siddaramaiah when the outgoing Chief Minister made the remarks.
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Siddaramaiah also stated that there was no pressure on him and that he resigned voluntarily.
Siddaramaiah said that the Congress has an absolute majority and that the state will soon have a new chief minister.
“Congress Legislature Party and the high command will take the decision for the next Chief Minister. The Governor will take action through constitutional procedures. Soon, the people of the state will see a new Chief Minister,” he said.
Reflecting on his nearly five decades in politics, Siddaramaiah said that he never compromised on his ideology.
“I never believed in making a fortune for myself. I was a Taluk member and became an MLA in 1983. It will be nearly 50 years in politics in 2028. Only those with people power can come to power. It is only people who can bring us to power. So even today, I stand by the values I believe in and I have never compromised on my ideology,” he said.
The leadership tussle between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah has been brewing for the past several months.
Earlier on Tuesday, both leaders met Congress central leadership in New Delhi. While the party publicly said that the discussions centered only around the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, sources said that Siddaramaiah was conveyed that the party is looking for a transition in the state.
After his resignation, Siddaramaiah is likely to travel to Delhi to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh said they would wait for the Congress leadership’s decision.
“We will wait for some more time… Let everyone wait for the party’s decision,” he said.
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