Rahul Gandhi-Siddaramaiah Meeting Tomorrow At 10 Janpath After Karnataka CM Exit

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is set to hold a one-on-one meeting with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at 9 am on Friday at 10 Janpath, a day after stepping down from the top post in the state. The meeting comes amid intense speculation over the Congress leadership transition in Karnataka and growing discussions around the party's next move after Siddaramaiah's resignation.

Siddaramaiah resigned as Karnataka chief minister on Thursday afternoon after completing three years in office. Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar accompanied him to the Governor's residence during the resignation process. Since Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was out of town, Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor's special secretary.

Siddaramaiah Says Decision Was Taken 'On My Own Accord'

Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Siddaramaiah maintained that his decision was voluntary and said the Congress high command would decide the next chief minister.

"I have given my resignation on my own accord. Whoever the high command and legistature party chooses will be the CM of the state," Siddaramaiah said.

The outgoing chief minister also said he expected the Governor to formally accept his resignation after returning and initiate the constitutional process for the appointment of the next CM. However, he avoided commenting on who could succeed him.

The development has further intensified political attention around Friday's scheduled meeting between Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, where discussions over the transition and future leadership structure are expected to take place.

'Never Compromised On My Ideology': Siddaramaiah

Reflecting on his long political journey, Siddaramaiah said he had remained committed to his principles throughout his career and never entered politics to accumulate wealth.

"I never believed in making a fortune for myself. I was an MLA in Taluk member and 1983 MLA. 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 values I believe in and I have never compromised on my ideology," he said.

Siddaramaiah also described the Constitution as "our dharma" and said voters were like deities for elected representatives. He highlighted that he had twice served as Karnataka chief minister and twice held the position of Leader of Opposition.

Congress Leadership Praised As Siddaramaiah Thanks Party

The senior Congress leader thanked Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for supporting him since he joined the party in 2006.

He said he had received "immense love and affection" from the party leadership, legislators and workers over the years. Siddaramaiah also expressed gratitude to Cabinet colleagues and officials who worked with him during both his terms as chief minister from 2013 to 2018 and again from 2023 till now.

The outgoing CM's remarks are being closely watched as the Congress leadership weighs the next phase of governance in Karnataka amid continuing discussions around a possible power-sharing understanding within the party.

Siddaramaiah Hits Out At Opposition Over Rumours

During his interaction with the media, Siddaramaiah also attacked the opposition and accused rivals, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of spreading misinformation against his government.

"Opposition tried to spread rumours about me, including the PM of the country. They said I will not be able to fulfill the promises, they said the coffers will go empty. But we have proven everyone wrong," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

Speculation surrounding a leadership change had grown stronger earlier in the day after Siddaramaiah held a breakfast meeting with several Cabinet ministers, including DK Shivakumar. Images of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar embracing after the meeting further fuelled political buzz over the transition.

Ever since the Congress formed the government in Karnataka in 2023, reports of internal negotiations and a possible rotational leadership arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have continued to surface. While Siddaramaiah was chosen to lead the government initially, demands from sections of the party for Shivakumar to eventually take charge never completely disappeared.