Siddaramaiah declines 2028 Karnataka assembly contest

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on July 26, 2026, that he will not contest the state's upcoming 2028 Assembly elections, citing his age, health, and a political environment he described as corrupted by money. The 79-year-old senior Congress leader made the announcement during a private event in Mandya district and in a detailed social media post, ending speculation about his electoral future.

Siddaramaiah explained that by the time the current government's term ends and the next election is held, he will be 81 or 82 years old. He stated that his health is no longer as robust and that he cannot campaign with the same energy as before. The 2028 election would have marked 50 years since he began his political career as a taluk board member in 1978. He reflected on his five-decade journey, stating he had seen both victories and defeats but took satisfaction in never having compromised his principles or betrayed his conscience.

A central pillar of his decision, however, was a critique of contemporary politics. Siddaramaiah lamented that the electoral field has become deeply corrupted, where candidates are now expected to give money to voters, a reversal from an...