Karnataka CM news highlights: DKS, Siddaramaiah land in Delhi as Congress awaits nod on next Karnataka CM

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Karnataka CM news LIVE: Siddaramaiah, who stepped down as Karnataka CM on Thursday arrived at Delhi’s IGI Airport on Friday after his special flight was diverted to Jaipur due to heavy rain and turbulence in the national capital.

The flight was carrying Siddaramaiah, his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar arrived at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri on Thursday amid fast-moving political developments in the state following the resignation of Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar arrived at Delhi’s IGI Airport late Thursday night, hours after Siddaramaiah stepped down as the chief minister of the state.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, Shivakumar said, “The weather is bad today. My CM has landed in Jaipur. Lots of turbulence.”

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the airport in Jaipur today.

Siddaramaiah, who tendered his resignation as CM today, was en route to Delhi to meet with Congress high command when his flight was diverted to Jaipur due to heavy rain in the national capital.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is back and Bengaluru. The governor was on a visit to Indore when outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah tendered his resignation.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: A special flight carrying Congress leader Siddaramaiah, his son Yathindra and party national general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala was diverted to Jaipur after heavy rain stormed the national capital.

"The special flight carrying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has landed in Jaipur instead of Delhi due to adverse weather conditions. Karnataka in-charge and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ministers K J George, Bairathi Suresh, legal advisor Ponnanna, Siddaramaiah's MLC son Yatindra, Congress secretary Abhishek Dutt were in the flight," the CMO statement said, as per news agency PTI.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar has left for Delhi. The Congress leader is also expected to meet the high command amid the suspense over the next chief ministerial pick.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar left his residence and is also expected to fly out to Delhi for a meeting with Congress high command.

As per sources, PTI reported that the deputy leader is expected to meet Congress high command on Friday, a day after Siddaramaiah's meet.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Shortly after tendering his resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah left for New Delhi on Thursday. Upon his arrival, he is likely to meet the Congress high command regarding his successor and the Cabinet formation exercise, sources told news agency PTI.

As per reports, his deputy and probable successor, D K Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, will also leave for the national capital later in the day.

According to Siddaramaiah's travel plan shared with the media, he will land in Delhi tonight, and his return journey has been kept "open".

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Supporters of Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday staged protests in several parts of Karnataka against his decision to step down as chief minister.

Emotional scenes were witnessed outside his official residence, Kaveri, in Bengaluru, where a large number of supporters gathered and surrounded him, urging him not to step down.

Siddaramaiah was seen trying to console them.

As he was about to leave for Lok Bhavan to submit his resignation, emotions ran high, with some supporters attempting to block his vehicle to prevent him from leaving.

In Shivamogga city, supporters staged a protest at Shivappa Nayaka Circle, with members of the Kuruba community leading the demonstration.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Speaking to reporters after Siddaramaiah's resignation as Karnataka chief minister, Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar's brother, DK Suresh said they will wait for the party's decision.

“We will wait for some more time... Let everyone wait for the party's decision,” he told ANI. His remarks also come as with all eyes on DK Shivakumar to take over as the next state chief minister.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that he resigned voluntarily.

Stating that there was no pressure behind his decision, Siddaramaiah said, "I have resigned voluntarily. There is no pressure on me. The Congress Legislature Party and the high command will take the decision for the next Chief Minister. The Governor will take action through constitutional procedures. Soon, the people of the state will see a new Chief Minister."

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Siddaramaiah became emotional while speaking about his tenure. He resigned from the CM post today, though his resignation is yet to be accepted by the Karnataka Governor.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah is set to leave for Delhi shortly. During his visit, the Congress leader to expected to meet with the high command - Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: All eyes are now on Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. Shivakumar is expected to take over the top post.

However, during his speech, outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah stated that the decision will be up to the high command and the legislative party to decide who will be the next leader.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Adding to the suspense over the next CM pick, Siddaramaiah stated that the high command and Congress legislative party will choose the next leader.

All eyes are on deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who is expected to be named the next party leader.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: In a major announcement, the outgoing chief minister added that he was asked by the Congress high command to take up a Rajya Sabha seat, however, the CM turned it down.

“They asked me to go to Rajya Sabha, I have politely told them no, saying I want to remain in state politics and I am not interested in national politics. I have two more years as an MLA, I will serve my people. I will continue in active politics,” he told reporters.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: In his farewell speech, the outgoing chief minister added that he will continue to fight against communal forces and uphold the Indian constitution.

“Until my last breath, I will fight against the communal forces. I am someone who believes in the constitution. If there was no constitution, I would never have been literate, MLA, DCM or CM. My parents were illiterate. So, I will fight the communal forces until my last breath,” he said.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Siddaramaiah said at the press conference that he never believed in making a fortune for himself.

"I was an MLA in Taluk member and 1983 MLA. It will be nearly 50 years in politics in 2028. Only those with people power can come to power. It is only people who can bring us to power. So even today, I stand by values I believe in and I have never compromised on my ideology," he said.

Siddaramaiah dismissed accusations of him being a "loan burden on the state", terming the allegations "false and politically motivated."

"As a CM and finance minister, I'm accused loan burden on the state. It is false and politically motivated. There are three criteria - fiscal deficit, that should be under 3%. We are under 3% at 2.95%. Debt should be 25% of GSDP," he said at the press conference.

"We are at 24.94%. There should be surplus should be there. We are in revenue deficit, but that's because the previous BJP govt has collapsed the economy. Also the finance commission didn't give us the funds that were entitled," he added.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Speaking to reporters, the Congress leader added that he made sure that his government made efforts towards social justice.

“Efforts were to fulfill all promises made in the manifesto.... we have not gone back on our words. For me and my party, it was a success,” he said.

The outgoing CM also stated that misinformation campaigns were spread against him, while also calling out PM Modi for engaging in it.

“ There were misinformation campaigns against me, including, and none other than the prime of the country saying our treasury will be empty and there won't be any money for welfare schemes. But after we launched the 5 guarantee scheme, Karnataka is number in per capita income and we are number 2 in the GST collection,” said Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: As he thanks supporters and fellow Congress leaders, outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah said he never expected to become an MLA and recalled how his entry into politics was “accidental.”

“I came from a village. I never thought I'd be one MLA, minister or chief minister. My entry to politics is accidental. My parents or anyone in my family is from politics,” the Congress leader said.

“Believe, Buddha, Ambedkar and Basava. I believe in the constitution. I believe all caste, religion and communities should live as one. I also believed that the wealth should be equally distributed. That's why the teachings of Buddha, Bavasa, Gandhi and Ambedkar have remained the root of my politics... I believe that an equal society should be there and everyone gets the same rights,” Siddaramaiah added further.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah added that they must make way for a new chief minister for Karnataka through constitutional means.

“I believe the constitution is our Dharma and voters our deities and fans. I got the chance to become chief minister twice and twice to be the leader of the opposition,” he told reporters.

Speaking on whether the governor will accept the resignation or not, the outgoing CM added that the governor also has a certain constitutional responsibility to uphold.

Karnataka CM news LIVE: Speaking to reporters on Thursday, outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah thanked Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for the opportunity to serve the state.