Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah has announced that he will not contest the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections, citing his age, health and what he called the increasing corruption in politics. The 79-year-old, however, clarified that he would continue to remain active in public life and work for the people despite stepping away from electoral politics.
In a post on X on Sunday, Siddaramaiah said the political environment had become “corrupted” and that he had decided not to seek another electoral mandate. He added that although supporters from his Varuna constituency had urged him to contest again, he had made up his mind not to fight any future elections.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Explaining his decision, Siddaramaiah said he would be around 81 or 82 years old when the current government’s term ends and the next Assembly election is due. He acknowledged that his health was no longer as strong as it had been in the past and that he could not work with the same energy and enthusiasm.
Reflecting on his political journey, the veteran Congress leader noted that 2028 would mark nearly five decades since he entered public life as a taluk board member in 1978. He said his career had witnessed both victories and defeats, but maintained that he had remained committed to his principles and never acted against his conscience.
Siddaramaiah also lamented the changing nature of electoral politics, claiming that elections had become increasingly driven by money. According to him, honest politics now struggles to survive in the present political climate, which influenced his decision to retire from contesting elections.
Despite ruling himself out of the 2028 polls, Siddaramaiah stressed that his public life was far from over. Thanking the people of Karnataka for their support over the past five decades, he said he would continue to dedicate himself to public service and remain a voice for people’s concerns outside the electoral arena.
