NEW DELHI: A day after former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah announced that he would not contest the 2028 Karnataka assembly elections, his son and state minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah said on Monday that once the Congress veteran makes a firm decision, no one can change his mind.Also Read: Siddaramaiah’s curtain call: Politics corrupt, will stay out of Karnataka poll fray“Once he makes a firm decision, no one can change it. As his son, I want him to prioritise his health as he approaches 80, instead of neglecting it because of work and other responsibilities. So, I will not try to persuade him,” Yathindra Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru.He said Siddaramaiah, 78, had made up his mind long ago. “Even when he was the chief minister, he had said he would not contest the 2028 assembly elections. He has already taken that decision, and we should all respect it,” he added.Yathindra Siddaramaiah maintained that his father would remain actively involved in politics despite retiring from electoral contests, and would continue to champion the cause of exploited and vulnerable sections of society.Siddaramaiah is currently the MLA from the Varuna assembly constituency in Mysuru. He stepped down as chief minister on May 28 following directions from the Congress high command, paving the way for DK Shivakumar to take over and bringing their prolonged tussle for the top post to an end.Following his resignation, Siddaramaiah revealed that he had “politely declined” the Congress high command’s offer of a Rajya Sabha seat, asserting that he wanted to remain in Karnataka politics and had no interest in moving to national politics.Ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, Siddaramaiah had announced they would be his last electoral contest. He returned to his home constituency of Varuna, retained the seat, and reiterated that while it might be his final election, he would continue to play an active role in politics.(With PTI inputs)
