Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday announced that he will not contest the 2028 Assembly elections, citing his age, health and the growing influence of corruption in politics.
Addressing a private event in Mandya district, Siddaramaiah said he would remain active in public life but had decided against contesting any future elections.
"Politics today has become deeply tainted by corruption. Therefore, I have decided not to contest the 2028 Assembly elections. However, I will continue to remain active in politics and stand with the people, raising my voice for their welfare," he said.
The veteran Congress leader said people from his Varuna constituency had repeatedly urged him to contest again, but he had made up his mind not to seek another term as an MLA.
His announcement comes two months after he stepped down as Karnataka Chief Minister, handing over the post to his deputy D.K. Shivakumar, with the state expected to go to the polls in less than two years.
'POLITICS HAS BECOME DEEPLY CORRUPTED'
Reflecting on his political journey, Siddaramaiah said he entered public life in 1978 as a taluk board member and would complete 50 years in politics by 2028.
"I have witnessed both victories and defeats in my political journey. But I take satisfaction in the fact that I have never compromised on my principles or acted against my conscience," he said.
The former Chief Minister also expressed concern over the increasing role of money in elections.
"Today, if one has to contest elections, candidates are expected to give money to voters. Politics has become deeply corrupted, and there is little space left for honest politics," he said, recalling that people from his constituency once voluntarily contributed funds to support his election campaigns.
Siddaramaiah, 79, said his advancing age and health also influenced his decision. He noted that he would be around 82 when the next Assembly elections are held and would no longer be able to work with the same energy as before.
SIDDARAMAIAH'S POLITICAL LEGACY
Over the years, Siddaramaiah established himself as the Congress's tallest leader in Karnataka, building a mass base that extended across regions and communities despite being a first-generation politician from a farming family.
His strong support among backward classes, minorities and the AHINDA coalition—an alliance of minorities, backward classes and Dalits—became one of his biggest political strengths. The coalition, built over several decades, helped him develop a broad social support base in Karnataka.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, the AHINDA bloc played a crucial role in helping the Congress navigate the state's traditional Vokkaliga-Lingayat caste equations and was seen as one of the key factors behind the party's victory.
Although Siddaramaiah joined the Congress only in 2006 after spending years with different Janata Parivar factions, he carved out a distinct identity and emerged as one of Karnataka's most influential political leaders.
With his decision to retire from electoral politics after 2028, Siddaramaiah brings the curtain down on a career that has shaped Karnataka's political landscape for nearly three decades.
