The confusion surrounding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation in Karnataka seems to have cleared up, with several ministers and sources confirming that the Congress leader is ready to step down after three years in office.
However, attention has now turned to whether Siddaramaiah will be able to tender his resignation today. Follow live updates on Karnataka CM News here.
Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot’s itinerary went viral on social media this morning, after reports said Siddaramaiah would meet him to tender his resignation. The governor’s schedule showed that he had engagements planned in Mumbai, Indore and his residential home in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh from May 27 to 28.
Siddaramaiah did not seek time to meet Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, PTI reported, quoting officials at Lok Bhavan. One of the officials was quoted as saying: “His Excellency is not here. There is no such information. As of now, there is no such message or information.”
People are now wondering how Siddaramaiah will resign if the governor is out of town. Notably, the itinerary circulating online did not specify whether the governor would return to Bengaluru today.
The schedule ends with Gehlot’s scheduled visit to his Nagda residence at 10:40 am. Thursday morning photos also showed him there.
Can Siddaramaiah resign in the absence of the governor?
The Governor of any state plays a major role in appointing the Prime Minister, and is equally important when the person holding the office wants to resign. According to Article 164 (1) of the Constitution, the Governor takes the oath before the Prime Minister.
It is common practice for the sitting Prime Minister to tender his resignation to the Governor, but the Constitution does not stipulate that it is necessary for the Governor to be physically present at Raj Bhavan for this.
Read also: Rajya Sabha likely to move from Siddaramaiah, but Shivakumar may not be Speaker: What’s next for Karnataka?
that India Today The report cites expert and Supreme Court lawyer RK Singh as saying that the governor can accept the resignation even without being present in his home state. The report adds that resignation can also be submitted through virtual methods, such as email or fax.
What is happening in Karnataka?
Siddaramaiah’s resignation as chief minister appears imminent with several ministers confirming that he will step down at 3pm this afternoon. Siddaramaiah met several of his cabinet ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar this morning for a breakfast meeting, after which pictures of him and his deputy hugging also emerged.
Reports of a rift or power tussle in Karnataka have been recurring since the Congress came to power in 2023. While Siddaramaiah was appointed Chief Minister, calls for DK Shivakumar to take over the role have never subsided.
However, there is no clarity yet on who will succeed Siddaramaiah, and people familiar with the matter had earlier told HT that Siddaramaiah was not willing to see Shivakumar take over.
