Ending months of political uncertainty, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah formally submitted his resignation from the post of Chief Minister on Thursday afternoon. His decision to step down from the top post clears the path for his deputy D. K. Shivakumar to become the next CM of the state.
The veteran Congress leader handed over his resignation letter to Prabhu Shankar, Special Secretary to the Governor, at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is currently out of the state and is expected to return later tonight to formally accept it.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to Prabhu Shankar, Special Secretary to Karnataka Governor. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is out of the state, is returning tonight.
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2026
(Pics: Karnataka Lok Bhavan) pic.twitter.com/QF5UYFJaoq
“I have tendered my resignation from the Chief Minister’s post. I am making way for the next CM,” Siddaramaiah told reporters after submitting the letter. He added, ‘I am confident Governor would accept my resignation as per Constitutional provisions.’ He further said, ‘I got opportunity to serve people of Karnataka twice, I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge.’
The move came hours after an cabinet breakfast meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence, where the 78-year-old Siddaramaiah informed his colleagues of his decision to step down. Sources said he endorsed Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar as his successor. Siddaramaiah informed the Cabinet that he had been asked to resign from the post by the Congress High Command.
The development ends weeks of intense speculation and internal Congress deliberations over leadership change in Karnataka. According to reports, the Congress high command facilitated the transition to pave the way for Shivakumar, aiming to resolve long-standing factional tensions between the two leaders and ensure stability.
A Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting is expected to be held on Friday, in which Shivakumar is anticipated to be elected as the new leader of the Congress legislative party. His swearing-in as Chief Minister is likely to take place over the weekend once the Governor completes the formalities.
Siddaramaiah, who returned to power in May 2023 after leading the Congress to victory in the assembly elections, had become Karnataka’s longest-serving Chief Minister earlier this year, surpassing the record of former CM D. Devaraj Urs.
