The ruling Congress will plan the next moves after Gehlot returns to Bengaluru and formally accepts the resignation. It will later schedule the Congress Legislature Party meeting, where MLAs will formally choose their new leader.
The oath-taking ceremony of Siddaramaiah’s successor is unlikely to happen this week, according to people familiar with the matter. Shivakumar, a strong believer in astrology, is learnt to have asked for auspicious dates to assume his new role. He will choose a date that is also convenient to party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Soon after submitting his resignation, Siddaramaiah told the media that his action came in deference to the party high command’s instructions. The party high command and the legislature party will decide on the new leader, he said.
Siddaramaiah thanked Sonia Gandhi for admitting him into Congress two decades ago and Rahul Gandhi for the opportunities he got.
The CM confirmed that the All India Congress Committee had offered him a nomination to the Rajya Sabha, but he had politely declined the offer. “I have never been interested in national politics,” he said, adding that he still had two more years of term as MLA.
Siddaramaiah said he will remain active in state politics and continue to fight the communal forces. “Until my last breath, I will continue to fight for social justice and against forces of communalism that oppose the Constitution,” he said.Later he flew to New Delhi by a special flight to meet Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders, and brief them about the developments, thank them for supporting him over the years and formally decline the Rajya Sabha offer. The party’s central leadership is still seeking to persuade Siddaramaiah to accept the Rajya Sabha role, according to people privy to the information, and help the party fight BJP at the national level.
Siddaramaiah began his day with an emotional breakfast meeting with Cabinet colleagues, where a minister spoke with his eyes in tears and voice choked. There were protests from workers belonging to the other backward classes in parts of Karnataka, urging Siddaramaiah not to resign and warning Congress of voter wrath in the next elections.
Shivakumar touched Siddaramaiah’s feet and sought his blessings, and both hugged each other. The deputy CM kept a low profile throughout the day, even as he sat next to Siddaramaiah during the press conference. The deputy CM left for New Delhi by an evening flight and will meet the party’s central leaders on Friday. He may extend his stay by a day.
