Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, left, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Indira Bhavan ahead of consultations with the Congress leadership, in New Delhi on May 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
After months of speculations and uncertainty, political shadow boxing, multiple trips to Delhi and a series of breakfast and dinner diplomacy meetings, Siddaramaiah finally announced his decision to stepp down from the position of Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 28, 2026.
A central figure in Karnataka politics since the mid-1980s, Siddaramaiah navigated the State’s complex political landscape through carefully crafted social alliances and a governance model centred on welfare and inclusivity.
Karnataka politics LIVE
Siddaramaiah is the third Karnataka CM to complete a full five-year term and return to lead the State for a second, though non-consecutive, tenure, and eventually truncated. Since 1947, only three Chief Ministers have completed a full term – Nijalingappa (Congress, 1962-1968), Devaraj Urs (Congress, 1972-1977) and Siddaramaiah (Congress, 2013-2018). The State has seen President’s Rule six times.
Compared to his first term, his second term from May 2023 to May 2026 was marked by an ongoing power struggle with Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar, with the Congress high command intervening on several occasions.
Here is a timeline of his tenure that was overshadowed by controversies and internal discord and dissidence.
Published – May 28, 2026 12:25 pm IST
