In a significant political development, Congress leader Siddaramaiah has officially stepped down from his position as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The announcement came during a breakfast meeting held at his official residence in Bengaluru, attended by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other prominent party figures including HK Patil, Priyank Kharge, KJ George, MB Patil, and Ramalinga Reddy.

Siddaramaiah disclosed that his resignation was in accordance with the directives from the Congress leadership, emphasizing that he is paving the way for a successor. “I am making way for a new chief minister,” he stated, confirming that he had submitted his resignation letter to the governor’s office, which is expected to be accepted shortly.

At 78 years old, Siddaramaiah holds the record as the longest-serving chief minister of Karnataka, with a political career that spans over eight years across two terms. His first term ran from 2013 to 2018, and he returned to the office in May 2023 after the Congress party’s decisive victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state elections.

The atmosphere during the breakfast meeting was marked by camaraderie, as Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah shared a warm embrace, with Shivakumar even touching Siddaramaiah’s feet, a gesture signifying respect and gratitude. With speculation about a change in leadership gaining momentum since the Congress government reached the halfway point of its five-year term in November, many are now looking towards Shivakumar as the likely candidate for the chief ministerial position.

The political landscape in Karnataka has been shifting, and this leadership transition could set the tone for the party’s strategies and governance in the remaining years of their term. As Karnataka eyes a new chapter under potentially new leadership, observers are keen to see how the change will affect the state’s governance and the Congress party’s standing.