Siddaramaiah says he declined Congress offer for Rajya Sabha seat

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he politely declined the Congress high command’s offer for a Rajya Sabha seat, asserting his commitment to state politics. He said he would continue serving as Varuna MLA and remain active in public life and political battles

Bengaluru: Siddaramaiah, who resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister, on Thursday claimed that he “politely declined” the Congress high command’s Rajya Sabha seat offer.

He asserted that he would remain in active politics for at least the remaining two years of his term as Varuna constituency MLA. “The high command asked me to go to the Rajya Sabha. I declined it humbly. I am not interested in national politics,” Siddaramaiah said.

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Addressing a packed press conference at his residential office — Krishna — shortly after submitting his resignation to the Governor’s Special Secretary at Lok Bhavan here, he said he would stay grounded in state politics.

“I will remain in state politics. The people have elected me for five years, and two years are still left. Till then, I will work for the people of Karnataka and for the people of my constituency,” he added.

Asked about his future journey in politics, the Congress leader said he will continue to be active in politics and fight against communal forces.

When asked about the actual reason behind his resignation, he said he had been saying from the beginning that he would resign whenever the high command asks him to do so.

To a question whether there was any pressure from the party’s top brass, he said, “What pressure? I voluntarily resigned immediately after they (high command) asked me to do so.”