Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resigned from his post on Thursday, bringing an end to months of speculation over a leadership change in the state. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accompanied him during the submission of the resignation letter to the Governor. The development is being seen as the conclusion of a long-running power tussle between the two senior Congress leaders, which had continued for nearly three years and often dominated political discussions in the state.

After submitting the resignation, Siddaramaiah addressed the media and confirmed the development. He said, "I have resigned as Chief Minister at Lok Bhavan."

He further explained that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was not present in Bengaluru at the time. "Governor is not in town. His office told me that Governor would return in the evening. Therefore, I handed over the resignation letter at his office," Siddaramaiah said.

The resignation was also confirmed by Prabhu Shankar, special secretary to the Governor. He stated, "I have received the resignation of Siddaramaiah (as the CM), but only the Governor can accept it after he returns."

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had earlier left for his residence in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh. His formal approval of the resignation is expected after he returns to Bengaluru.

Soon after the resignation, Siddaramaiah made a brief but emotional statement while speaking to reporters. He said, "I am a politician. I believe that Constitution is our religion and voters are like God."

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah hosted a breakfast meeting for cabinet ministers at his residence. The meeting gained attention due to the political significance surrounding the leadership transition. Visuals from the gathering showed DK Shivakumar seeking Siddaramaiah’s blessings and warmly hugging him. The images quickly became a major talking point as they reflected the changing political situation within the Karnataka Congress.

Talks about a possible change in leadership had been circulating for several months. Supporters of DK Shivakumar had repeatedly demanded that he be made the Chief Minister. They referred to a reported power-sharing understanding that was believed to have been reached when the Congress formed the government after winning the Karnataka Assembly elections in 2023.

At the time, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were the two main contenders for the Chief Minister’s post. The Congress leadership had faced a difficult task in balancing the ambitions of both leaders after the party secured victory in the Assembly polls held in May 2023. Eventually, the party chose Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister, while DK Shivakumar was appointed Deputy Chief Minister and also continued as the Karnataka Congress president.

Following that arrangement, reports had suggested that the party had worked out a “rotational chief minister formula” to maintain balance between the two camps. However, the Congress never officially confirmed such an agreement. Despite this, the issue continued to remain part of Karnataka’s political discussions and often created pressure within the ruling party.

Over the past few months, the demand for Shivakumar’s elevation grew stronger among his supporters. Political observers believed that the ongoing uncertainty over leadership was affecting the functioning of the government at times. The issue repeatedly surfaced in public debates and within party circles, keeping the Congress leadership under pressure.

With Siddaramaiah now stepping down, attention has shifted towards the next phase of leadership in Karnataka. DK Shivakumar is widely expected to take over as the next Chief Minister, although an official announcement from the Congress leadership is awaited.

The political transition marks a major moment for the Congress government in Karnataka. It also highlights how internal power-sharing arrangements and leadership ambitions continued to shape the state’s political landscape even after the party’s strong electoral victory in 2023.