Siddaramaiah Declares He Will Not Contest in 2028 Assembly Elections

Siddaramaiah's Decision on Future Elections

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Congress leader Siddaramaiah announced on Sunday that he will not participate in the 2028 assembly elections. He cited the corrupt political environment, along with his advancing age and declining health, as key factors influencing his decision. This announcement comes just weeks after Siddaramaiah stepped down from his role as Chief Minister, making way for D.K. Shivakumar.

In a post on X, Siddaramaiah stated, "I will not contest the 2028 assembly elections. I am now 79 years old. Our government's term has another year and a half left, by which time I will be around 81-82 years old. My health is not what it used to be, and I can no longer work with the same enthusiasm as before." Despite this, he expressed his intention to remain active in public life and continue advocating for the people.

Siddaramaiah further explained that the current political climate has become toxic, leading him to his decision not to run in the upcoming elections. He mentioned that constituents from the Varuna constituency had urged him to contest again, but he has resolved to refrain from participating in any future elections.

Reflecting on his past electoral campaigns, Siddaramaiah recalled that during his first election, his constituents had financially supported his victory. He lamented that the situation has drastically changed, stating that now candidates often have to pay voters to secure their support. He emphasized that today's politics is deeply corrupt, leaving no room for honest governance, which is why he has chosen not to run in future elections.