Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Sunday announced that he will not contest the 2028 Assembly elections, saying the political arena has become “corrupted" and that advancing age and declining health have influenced his decision.
The announcement comes weeks after Siddaramaiah was replaced by DK Shivakumar as the Karnataka CM. However, in his statement, the veteran Congress leader attributed his decision to his age, health and the changing nature of politics.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said he would not contest the 2028 Assembly elections or any future elections.
“I will not contest in the 2028 assembly elections. I am now 79 years old. Our government’s term still has one and a half years left. By then, I will be 81-82 years old. My health is not as robust as it used to be. It is no longer possible to work with the same enthusiasm as before," he wrote.
He said he would, however, remain active in public life and continue to speak for the people.
“Since the political field has become corrupted today, I will not contest in the 2028 assembly elections. However, remaining active in politics, I will continue to stand as a voice for the people’s hardships and joys," Siddaramaiah said.
The former Chief Minister said people in the Varuna constituency had once again urged him to contest the elections, but he had decided not to fight any election in the future.
Recalling his earlier campaigns, Siddaramaiah said that when he contested elections in the past, people from the constituency contributed money and ensured his victory. He added that the situation had now changed.
“The time has come where, if we contest elections, we would have to give money to the people. Politics today is thoroughly corrupted. Honest politics seems to have no leg to stand on. In this backdrop, I have arrived at the decision not to contest in future elections," he said.
Siddaramaiah said he would be 82 years old by 2028, which would also mark 50 years of his political journey. He said he began his political career in 1978 as a taluk board member and had experienced both victories and defeats over the decades.
Reflecting on his career, Siddaramaiah said he was satisfied that he had never acted against the principles he believed in or betrayed his conscience.
He also thanked the people of Karnataka for their support over the past five decades. “For five decades, the people of the state have seen me as one among them and affectionately guided me. This debt weighs on me. Therefore, my future life too will be dedicated to public service," he said.
Siddaramaiah made the remarks while speaking at a private event organised on Saturday in K.R. Pet in Mandya district, before later sharing his decision in a detailed post on X.
Source: News18
