Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah, who recently stepped down from the Chief Minister's post, has announced that he will not contest the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections, effectively signalling his retirement from electoral politics.
Siddaramaiah said that politics had become "highly polluted" and that honest politics was struggling to survive, prompting him to decide against contesting any future elections.
"Politics has become highly polluted. Honest politics is struggling to survive. It is in this backdrop that I have decided not to contest any future elections," he said.
Siddaramaiah made the announcement while speaking at an event organised to mark the birthday of K.R. Pet Krishna in K.R. Pet town of Mandya district, in the presence of his supporters.
However, those attending the event urged him to remain active in politics for at least another 10 years.
A video of Siddaramaiah's remarks about his decision to retire from electoral politics has since attracted considerable attention and gone viral on social media. Despite objections from supporters who urged him to continue in politics, Siddaramaiah reiterated that he would not contest any future elections.
Taking to social media platform X on Sunday, Siddaramaiah said he had announced on July 25 that he would not contest the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections, citing his age and expressing concern over the changing nature of politics.
However, speaking at the private event in K.R. Pet, he clarified that he would continue to remain active in public life and serve the people despite stepping away from electoral politics.
"I will not contest the 2028 Assembly elections. However, I will remain active in politics and continue to be a voice for the joys and hardships of the people," he said.
Siddaramaiah said people from the Varuna Assembly constituency had been urging him to contest once again, but he had decided not to participate in any future elections.
"Earlier, when we contested elections, people in the constituency would contribute financially and help us win. Today, the situation is entirely different," he said.
The senior Congress leader, who is currently 79, noted that he would be around 82 by the time the next Assembly elections are held in 2028 and may not have the same level of energy and health.
"By 2028, I will complete 50 years in public life. I began my political journey in 1978 as a Taluk Board member. I have witnessed both victory and defeat, but I have never acted against the principles I believed in or betrayed my conscience," Siddaramaiah said.
Expressing concern over the prevailing political climate, he said elections had become increasingly expensive and that honest politics was finding it difficult to survive.
Siddaramaiah added that the people of Karnataka had treated him as one of their own over the past five decades and said he remained indebted to them for their affection and support.
"My remaining years will continue to be dedicated to public service," he said.
Siddaramaiah has served as Karnataka's Chief Minister for two terms, spending more than eight years in office and becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister in the state's history.
During his first term, he completed a full five-year tenure from May 13, 2013, to May 15, 2018. He later served a second term from May 20, 2023, until June 3, 2026.
This is not the first time Siddaramaiah has indicated that he intends to retire from electoral politics. When he became Chief Minister for the first time in 2013, he told the media that it would be his last election.
Ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections, before contesting from the Chamundeshwari and Badami constituencies, he reiterated that the election was likely to be his final one.
Similarly, while speaking in Mysuru in April 2024, Siddaramaiah had said, "I am now 77 years old. By the time this term ends, I will be 81 or 82. At that age, my health may not permit me to work with the same enthusiasm. Therefore, I will not contest the 2028 Assembly elections."
His latest remarks at K.R. Pet have once again brought renewed focus on his political future, even as his supporters continue to urge him to remain active in public life.
With IANS inputs