Karnataka News: Siddaramaiah leaves for Delhi after resigning from CM post, to meet Rahul Gandhi

Siddaramaiah, who has reached Delhi, sought appointment only with LoP Rahul Gandhi. He has no appointment with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. He is set to leave for Delhi for talks with party high command.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday expressed deep gratitude to the people of Karnataka, sharing an emotional note thanking them for their affection and support throughout his tenure as Chief Minister, following his resignation from the post.

Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned from his post as Karnataka Chief Minister after days of turbulence in the state's political landscape. Flanked by DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s secretary at Raj Bhavan, as the latter is not in the city. Click here to read more.

Sources have told India TV that DK Shivakumar will leave for Delhi shortly, where he will meet senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah has left for Delhi after resigning as chief minister of Karnataka.

According to sources, the legislature party meeting of the Congress will take place on Friday. They also said that DK Shivakumar has asked astrologers for three possible dates for swearing in ceremony. One of these dates will be finalised based on the availability of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

With inputs from T Raghavan 

Ahead of Siddaramaiah's arrival in Delhi, the Congress is holding a crucial meeting at the party headquarters. The meeting is being attended by senior MPs Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal.

Following his resignation as chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has left for the airport in Bengaluru. He will depart for New Delhi shortly.

Siddaramaiah, following his resignation as chief minister, will leave for Delhi shortly where he will meet the Congress top brass.

Speaking at a press conference after resigning as the chief minister earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah said he was offered a Rajya Sabha seat, but he declined it as he has no interest in national politics. "I will remain in state politics as I still have two years to serve as MLA," he said. 

In his press conference after resigning from the position of chief minister, Siddaramaiah said he will always remain indebted of the Congress leadership. He further said he always followed the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and the Constitution will remain his top most priority always.

Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said he joined the Congress in 2006. He also thanked all those who supported him during his tenure as the chief minister of Karnataka.

Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said that the welfare of the state is the most crucial thing for me. He also thanked the party top brass for allowing him to serve as chief minister of Karnataka and serve the people.

Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said he was directed by the party high command day before yesterday to resign from position. 

"Following instructions from the party's high command, I have decided to resign. I am confident that the Governor will accept my resignation," he said.

Following his resignation as chief minister, Siddaramaiah is addressing a press conference in Bengaluru. 

"I have submitted my resignation to the Governor's Office. The Governor is not here; he is returning tonight. So, I submitted the resignation to his office,"  he said.

Siddaramaiah has resigned from the position of Karnataka chief minister.

Supporters of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are protesting outside his residence in Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah is stepping down from his position shortly.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has arrived at the Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. He is expected to step down from his position shortly.

Supporters of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have gathered outside the Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru to protest against their leader's resignation. 

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar arrives at CM Siddaramaiah's residence.  

Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil on Thursday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed him and other ministers of his decision to step down and that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will be his successor. After taking part in the breakfast hosted by the chief minister, Patil, who holds the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, said that Siddaramaiah will visit Lok Bhavan to tender his resignation. The proposed change in the leadership is in compliance with the directions of the Congress high command, he added.

Sidaramaiah will reach Delhi by 6:30 pm today. He is coming to Delhi by chartered flight.

(Report Vijai Laxmi) 

Minister HK Patil confirms that DK Shivakumar will be the new CM of Karnataka. He said, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that discussions were held at the high-command level and that the high command had suggested his resignation, which he readily and happily agreed to. He also said that the high command had proposed DK Shivakumar as the next Chief Minister, and he had agreed to that as well. He told us that it would be a unanimous decision, with no rift, dissent, or differences. DK Shivakumar will be the next Chief Minister. Siddaramaiah is not going to the Rajya Sabha; he will be going to Raj Bhavan at 3 pm."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will visit Lok Bhavan today at 02.30 pm. Later, he will address a press conference at Home Office Krishna at 03.00 pm. 

After CM Siddaramaiah's breakfast meeting, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, "By 3.30 pm, he is going to resign. He has thanked all our ministers for our cooperation."

During the meeting, Siddaramaiah said that DK Shivakumar would be the next Chief Minister and urged everyone to support him.

(Report: T Raghvan) 

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot arrives at his residence in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh.

Siddaramaiah has announced his resignation from CM post during breakfast meet with Cabinet colleagues. He briefed the ministers that the Congress high command has asked him to enter national politics and step down.

(Report: T Raghvan) 

Amid strong speculations that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will tender his resignation to pave the way for the Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to take over the reins of Karnataka, Lok Bhavan officials said on Thursday that the former has not yet sought time to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. This comes a day after top sources in the chief minister's office on Wednesday said Siddaramaiah has sought time to meet Gehlot today.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar touched the feet of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. 

Karnataka CM and Deputy CM, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, respectively, share a hug at the CM residence in Bengaluru at the breakfast meeting.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is widely expected to step down, hosted a breakfast for his cabinet colleagues at his official residence in Bengaluru on Thursday. His current deputy and possible successor, DK Shivakumar and other cabinet colleagues attended the breakfast meeting.

It is being speculated that Siddaramaiah will announce his stepping down from the CM post to make way for Shivakumar, possibly at the breakfast meeting. The CM reportedly sought the Governor's appointment after the party high command apparently asked him to make way for a leadership change in the state. He also said he will speak on the matter on Thursday.

Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara said, "The Chief Minister has called all the ministers for breakfast and before he resigns, he wants to thank all the ministers for their cooperation. I am not aware whether he (Siddaramaiah) was offered a position in Delhi; it is up to the high command."

All ministers and MLAs arrived at Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's residence in Bengaluru for a breakfast meeting.

Supporters of Karnataka Deputy CM and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar distribute sweets and raise slogans in his support outside his residence, amid the speculations around CM post.

Karnataka Deputy CM and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar arrives at the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the breakfast meeting called by him.

Sources said Siddaramaiah has sought time to meet Rahul Gandhi and is expected to call on him after submitting his resignation. According to sources, the Chief Minister wants to personally thank Rahul Gandhi following the recent leadership transition discussions within the Indian National Congress. Sources further indicated that Siddaramaiah is also likely to politely decline the offer of a Rajya Sabha seat during the meeting.

Karnataka Congress leaders begin arriving at the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru for the breakfast meeting called by him.

Karnataka Minister HK Patil arrives at the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru for the breakfast meeting called by him.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiha will be coming to Delhi today.

(Report: Vijai Laxmi)

According to the sources also said that the oath-taking ceremony for a new chief minister is likely to take place on Saturday (May 30). 

Amid ongoing political discussions within the Congress over leadership change in Karnataka, sources said the party is considering appointing three Deputy Chief Ministers representing the Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and women.

Probable names of deputy CMs

These could be the probable deputy CM names being considered by the Congress party.

• G Parameshwara / Priyank Kharge  (Dalit quota)
• Yathindra Siddaramaiah (OBC)
• MB Patil / Eshwar Khandre (Lingayat)
• KJ George / UT Khader/ BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan (Minority)

Supporters of Deputy CM and KPCC president DK Shivakumar have gathered outside his residence in Bengaluru amid the political developments and speculations around the CM post.

Meanwhile, taking a dig at the ruling party, BJP state president BY Vijayendra claimed that the Congress high command's possible "decision" was to replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after concluding that the state government had "failed" to provide good governance during the last three years. He also predicted mid-term Assembly polls in the state irrespective of who becomes the next chief minister.

As the political heat rises in the southern state in anticipation of a new CM, AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala clarified that the Congress has not called for a meeting of its legislature party in the state and that no other decision has been taken yet. He requested the media not to speculate on the issue.

According to sources, the party's central leadership on Tuesday asked Siddaramaiah to communicate his decision on stepping down from the post to Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. During the high-level meeting held in Delhi, Siddaramaiah was reportedly offered a seat in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier, it was also suggested by senior leader Rahul Gandhi that he may consider moving to the Upper House of Parliament.

However, Siddaramaiah is said to have informed the leadership that he is not keen on shifting to national politics at this stage. He has reportedly asked for more time to think over the proposal before making a final decision.

Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot is not in Bengaluru today; according to Raj Bhavan sources, he has had to travel to Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on urgent business. However, sources in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the plan to submit the resignation to the Governor's office would proceed as scheduled. According to the CMO, there will be no change in plans due to the Governor's absence, and the resignation will still be formally submitted to the Governor's office.

(Report: T Raghvan) 

Supporters of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gathered outside his official residence on Wednesday, protesting amid intense speculation that he may step down. Police deployed outside his official residence, Kaveri, whisked away the protesters in buses as they shouted slogans. The protesters also raised slogans against the Congress leadership, expressing displeasure over the move for a CM change.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will host his cabinet colleagues for breakfast on Thursday, and later call on the Governor with his resignation. Keeping up the suspense, the 77 year-old veteran leader refused to comment on the raging speculations on Wednesday and said he would comment on the matter a day later.

A change of guard in the three-year-old Karnataka government seems imminent with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking the Governor's appointment, a day after he was apparently asked by the party high command to make way for his deputy DK Shivakumar's elevation to the top post. He is likely to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, apparently to tender his resignation.