Daijiworld Media Network – Mandya
Mandya, Jul 27: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday announced that he would not contest the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections or any future election, citing advancing age, health concerns and what he described as the growing deterioration of the political system.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a function organised by a foundation to mark the 86th birth anniversary of former Karnataka Assembly Speaker late Krishna in Krishnaraja Pete, Siddaramaiah said that while he would stay away from electoral politics, he would continue to remain active in public life and champion people's causes.
"I will not contest the 2028 Assembly elections because politics has become polluted. However, I will remain active in politics and continue to be a voice for the people's hardships and happiness," he said.
The veteran Congress leader said people from his Varuna Assembly constituency had been urging him to seek another term, but he had made up his mind not to contest any further elections.
"I have decided that I should not contest any more elections. I am now 79 years old. Our government's tenure has another one-and-a-half years left. By then I will be around 81 or 82 years old. At that age, I may not have the health or enthusiasm to work as I do now. How much more is enough?" he remarked.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that 2028 would mark 50 years of his political career, which began in 1978 when he entered public life as a Taluk Board member.
"By 2028, I will be 82 years old. It will also mark 50 years of my political journey. I began my political career in 1978 as a Taluk Board member," he said.
Expressing concern over the changing nature of electoral politics, Siddaramaiah lamented that elections had become increasingly driven by money, making it difficult for principled politics to survive.
"There was a time when people in the constituency themselves contributed money to help us contest and win elections. Today, we have reached a stage where candidates have to give money to the people. Politics has become highly polluted. Honest politics is struggling to survive. It is for these reasons that I have decided not to contest future elections," he said.
Paying tribute to former Speaker Krishna, Siddaramaiah said the veteran leader had voluntarily retired from active politics while he still enjoyed the confidence of the people because he was disillusioned by the prevailing political climate.
Siddaramaiah was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the ninth time after winning from the Varuna constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, he lost from Chamundeshwari but won from Badami, following which he served as the Leader of the Opposition.
He was first elected to the Assembly from Chamundeshwari in 1983 as a candidate of the Lok Dal. He went on to win the constituency five times and lost there on three occasions. After the 2008 delimitation of Assembly constituencies, he successfully contested from the newly created Varuna constituency.
In 2018, he vacated the Varuna seat in favour of his son Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah and returned to contest from Chamundeshwari. Ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, Yathindra stepped aside, allowing Siddaramaiah to contest once again from Varuna.
Notably, Siddaramaiah had also said ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections that it could be his "last election". He had made a similar statement before the 2013 Assembly elections as well, but subsequently went on to become chief minister.