Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a veteran Congress leader with nearly five decades in politics, informed his Cabinet colleagues of his decision to resign during a breakfast meeting at his official residence in Bengaluru on May 28, 2026.Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirmed the decision.Siddaramaiah, aged 77, recently completed three years of his second term and had previously served a full five-year term from 2013-2018.Known for consolidating the AHINDA voter base comprising OBC, Muslim, and Dalit communities, he has been a leader with significant mass appeal.

The resignation follows instructions from Congress High Command, reportedly communicated by Rahul Gandhi, who also offered Siddaramaiah a Rajya Sabha seat for an honourable exit.The timing coincides with the upcoming elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka scheduled for June 18.During the breakfast, Deputy CM D.K.Shivakumar and other Cabinet Ministers attended, with visuals showing a respectful exchange between the two senior leaders.

The Governor of Karnataka, Thaawarchand Gehlot, was away in Indore at the time, meaning the formal acceptance of the resignation would be confirmed upon his return.

Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude to his ministers for their support and reflected on achievements and challenges of his second term, marking the conclusion of a notable political career.