Senior Congress Siddaramaiah resigned as Karnataka chief minister, ending months of intense speculation over a leadership change in the state. Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation at the Lok Bhavan on Thursday.
In a press meet later, the Congress leader said he had multiple times in the past asserted he would resign if the high command requested him to do so.
He said he has abided by the decisions of the party high command. Siddaramaiah said he is hopeful that his resignation would be accepted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
He thanked the people of the state for supporting him during his two terms as the cheif minister. He also expressed gratitude to the party’s top leadership for offering him the post.
The resignation came after back-to-back meetings at the Congress headquarters in Delhi involving Rahul Gandhi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretaries K. C. Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Siddaramaiah informed his cabinet colleagues of his decision to step down during a breakfast hosted at his residence, attended also by the current deputy and possible successor, D.K. Shivakumar.
