Will Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Move to Rajya Sabha? Karnataka Politics Buzz Intensifies | News18

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]But, important point that Dinesh Gundurao made and I'll take it to my colleague Pallavi as well. Pallavi Dinesh Gundurao spoke about how the Chief Minister perhaps is not keen on moving to Rajya Sabha, but he said I do hope that Siddaramaiah will be active and will ensure that he will campaign for the party. He will in fact propagate the Congress's ideology. That's something even Siddaramaiah mentioned in this meeting. And he also said I hope he'll be active nationally as well.

[00:00:28]Perhaps that will be the next big point the Congress will look at. How Siddaramaiah will involve in Congress's activities, whether he'll take up Rajya Sabha seat or not, that's a different matter. But how he will remain active and also relevant in 2028 and 2029.

[00:00:47]>> Let me I'm coming to you from Bengaluru itself. In fact, this is right where Siddaramaiah's residence also is and that's been the hub of action. The fact that the Congress party has not been able to take this decision for a good 3 years just goes on to show the kind of apprehension within the Congress as far as the Siddaramaiah factor is concerned.

[00:01:06]He's no pushover politician. He's very shrewd. He's astute. Until now large number of MLAs have always been by his side. I still remember that when we were in Delhi and that time there was this whole discussion going on that who's going to become the Chief Minister. DK Shivakumar was closeted inside his you know inside Karnataka Bhavan and that is where we had I'd gone to meet him. And you know he also had his fair share of supporters who were insisting that as a KPCC president and also the fact that he had been given a commitment that he would be made a Chief Minister, why should he missed out? But there were hard hard realities on the ground which made the central leadership opt for Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister. First the community he comes to. The second of course is that [music] the kind of grassroot politician that he has been.

[00:01:52]That's precisely the reason why it was often difficult for the central Congress leadership to bite the bullet. I mean Rahul Gandhi this avatar of now trying to bite the bullet taking a decision.

[00:02:02]But both on that the Gandhi family realizing that this was the best time to go and fulfillment of the commitment.

[00:02:08]Unlike in Punjab where they had made the mistake with just three to four months before elections they had had a change of guard. This time round they realized that if the decision or the change has to be made it will have to be made now.

[00:02:20]But also Siddaramaiah is not someone who can be overlooked. What is it that they can offer And more importantly what is it that he's going to be ready to accept? Obviously he would want to have a grip over the new government which is going to be formed. He would want his people to be accommodated in meaty portfolios in the cabinet as well. And of course for his son as well. So that is also going to be a huge challenge for the central leadership as to how much can they ignore Siddaramaiah's pressure?

[00:02:50]>> Absolutely. Uh stay with us Pallavi. Uh my colleague in Sherin Elizabeth in fact has spoken to Ashok Pattan the chief whip in the assembly. Remember he is a close confidant and a loyalist of Siddaramaiah and he said that the chief minister would be submitting his resignation later in the day.

[00:03:12]>> After 2:30 3:00 press conference will be there in the Krishna office something same.

[00:03:18]>> Okay.

[00:03:19]>> 4:00 he's going to Delhi.

[00:03:21]>> Okay sir will he be taking Rajya Sabha seat or will he con- continue to be actively involved in Karnataka politics?

[00:03:29]>> No it is his personal view madam. I think as per my knowledge he will not accept mostly. Yeah because it is his personal view no I cannot express what he has told to high command. He's going to meet the Rahul Gandhi to thank to tell thanks for cooperating the up to eight to eight years.

[00:03:47]>> Sir it was a long stint of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. What is the message that you want to give to the viewers? How you know his uh governance have been something that has been up front and very you know very absolutely perfectly that he run the government. So is there some message that you want to send to the viewers?

[00:04:05]>> No he has given very good government still now.

[00:04:08]I think our Congress government will continue the same thing development and other things that they they will continue. We will come to the chief of the party they will continue.

[00:04:19]>> No name has been mentioned but everyone knows that >> yet no no no everybody knows that D.K.

[00:04:24]Shivakumar will be there but officially they have not announced.

[00:04:28]>> Okay so today at what time are you reaching our governor is not in Karnataka sir he's in >> I think we are going to meet the concerned officer then we'll be there. I think the letter will be submitted to him and we are going back to press conference from there he's going to Delhi.

[00:04:44]>> And when is the oath taking ceremony is there any plans on that?

[00:04:47]>> No no no plan still no I officially name is not announced after announcing the name we'll call for the CLP and in the CLP we will elect the new leader unanimously after all date will be fixed consulting with the governor.

[00:05:01]>> Okay one last question sir cabinet who all are going to be now part of the cabinet and how many deputy chief ministers lot of talks about >> No that has been no madam after CM's decided no they will decide after that after that.

[00:05:16]>> Okay okay thank you thank you thank you thank >> Okay.