Siddaramaiah, face of AHINDA politics, announces electoral retirement
On May 28, Siddaramaiah resigned from the Karnataka chief minister's post, ending his second tenure in office
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a tireless fighter in state politics, has announced his retirement from electoral politics. Speaking at the birth anniversary celebration of late KR Pete Krishna in KR Pete, he made it clear that he will not contest the 2028 Assembly elections. He also made an X post on the announcement.
Also read: Siddaramaiah: The shepherd who rewrote Karnataka's political history
During the event, fans and supporters appealed to him to "remain active in electoral politics for at least 10 more years." However, Siddaramaiah, responding emotionally to their appeal, sent a clear message about his political retirement, saying, "I will not contest the 2028 elections."
An end to a five-decade journey
On May 28, Siddaramaiah resigned from the chief minister's post, ending his second tenure in office. With that, a political journey spanning five decades, marked by relentless advocacy for AHINDA (minorities, backward classes and Dalits), came to a close.
Also read: Siddaramaiah may step down, but uphold AHINDA interests
His resignation, in deference to the Congress high command's instructions and Rahul Gandhi's message, brought an emotional chapter in the state's politics to a close.
Voice of the underprivileged
Born in the soil of Mysore politics, raised through pro-people struggles, and having witnessed the sacrifice of power, the betrayal of power, and the glory of power — that is Siddaramaiah, a rare politician.
In Karnataka politics, some people become great by holding positions, while others seek positions because of their personality. But Siddaramaiah's political journey was different from both. He did not remain just a chief minister or a political leader. He became the voice of the exploited classes, the embodiment of social self-respect, the voice of the Mysore region, and the political expression of the backward classes.
Also read: Secrets of Siddaramaiah's record run as CM: Experience, adaptability, smart governance
While the late Devaraja Urs transformed the politics of the Mysore region into a "power balance", Siddaramaiah took it forward as a "war for social justice". Now, his decision to retire from electoral politics has left millions of his fans and supporters across the state deeply saddened.
This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka