Bengaluru: Hours after stepping down as Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah made it clear that he has no interest in national politics and will continue to remain active in state politics.
Addressing a joint press conference with Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Siddaramaiah said the Congress high command had offered him a Rajya Sabha position, but he declined it.
“The high command asked me to move to the Rajya Sabha, but I humbly refused. I want to continue in Karnataka politics,” he said.
Siddaramaiah also clarified that his resignation was voluntary and not the result of pressure from the party leadership. “I will continue in active politics,” he asserted.
He said the final decision on the next Chief Minister would be taken by the Congress Legislature Party and the party high command.
Reflecting on his political journey, Siddaramaiah said he never imagined becoming an MLA, minister or Chief Minister while growing up in a rural background.
He added that the ideologies of Gautama Buddha, Basavanna, B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi would continue to guide his political life.
Defending his government’s flagship guarantee schemes, Siddaramaiah said nearly ₹1.40 lakh crore had been spent to fulfil promises made to the people. He claimed Karnataka now ranks first in the country in per capita income despite criticism over the state’s finances.
