Speaking at a program in K.R. Pet on Sunday, Siddaramaiah said politics today has become thoroughly corrupted, and that it was in this environment that he had decided not to contest the 2028 polls. He was quick to clarify, however, that stepping back from electoral contests doesn't mean stepping away from politics altogether — he said he intends to keep raising his voice on public issues going forward.

Siddaramaiah, now 79, explained that by the time the current government's term concludes, he would be 81 or 82 years old, and that he no longer carries the same energy he once did for active campaigning. He noted that 2028 would mark 50 years since he entered politics, a journey that began in 1978 when he became a Taluk Board member.

He also addressed pressure from his own constituency, saying voters in Varuna wanted to see him contest one more time. Despite that, he said he had made up his mind not to contest any future election. He reflected on how election dynamics have shifted over the decades, saying that in earlier years, the public used to actively support candidates, but that the environment has since changed — candidates today are expected to spend money to win votes, he said, adding that space for honest politics keeps shrinking, which he cited as a key reason behind his decision.

Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister on May 28, 2026, with the Karnataka Governor accepting his resignation the following day. D.K. Shivakumar subsequently took over the Chief Minister's post. Sunday's announcement is being read as another significant marker in Siddaramaiah's long political career, coming just two months after his exit from the state's top office.

Congress has not issued an official statement responding to Siddaramaiah's announcement, and it remains to be seen how the party plans to navigate Varuna's leadership question, given the continued public pressure from his own constituency for him to run again.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will not hold a victory parade in Bengaluru after their IPL title win, the franchise confirmed on Monday, citing public safety concerns and official restrictions following last year’s deadly stampede.

No parade in city

The franchise said it had taken the decision after consulting civic authorities and the Bengaluru City Police, which last week issued an advisory discouraging public celebrations on city streets. According to officials, the police are unlikely to permit large-scale processions or open-road festivities in light of high-profile events and limited deployment capacity.

Police advisory, official reasons

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh had told media that the force “will not allow public celebrations” and urged fans to celebrate indoors to avoid disturbances. Sources familiar with the matter said the police cited two main reasons: the upcoming swearing-in of Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on 3 June, and the need to maintain law-and-order with senior dignitaries in the city.

“The state is already preparing for several large security tasks around the swearing-in. It is impractical to allocate resources for another major public event on the same day,” a senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters.

Context from last year

The decision comes against the backdrop of the June 4, 2025 stampede near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 people after RCB hastily organised a victory procession following their maiden title. That tragedy prompted public outrage, a police probe, and judicial scrutiny, with authorities under pressure to prevent a repeat. The memory of that night—chaotic scenes outside the stadium, ambulances ferrying the injured and relatives waiting for news—remains fresh with city residents.

Franchise’s cautious stance

RCB management argued the ban and the broader security situation made a city parade inadvisable. “We will respect the advisory and prioritise fan safety,” an RCB source told PTI. The team said it would explore alternative, controlled ways to connect with supporters, without giving details on whether those would include closed-venue events or virtual engagements.

Player availability and timing

Logistics and player commitments also influenced the decision. Several players are due to join national teams shortly: Devdutt Padikkal has been named to the India Test squad for the one-off match in Mullanpur and is expected to report by Wednesday, according to selectors. Overseas players such as Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Jacob Duffy and Romario Shepherd face their respective international duties in the coming days. With many core members unavailable, organisers said a large public parade would not carry the same significance.

Ground-level reaction

Fans gathered near Koramangala and MG Road on Monday evening, where small groups chanted and waved team flags, but there was no organised street celebration. “We understood why the club won’t do a parade,” said Ravi Kumar, a long-time RCB supporter. “People are still upset about last year. It’s safer this way.”

Political calendar complicates matters

The swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan, scheduled for 4.10 pm on 3 June, drew particular attention because of its proximity to the Governor’s residence and Chinnaswamy Stadium. Officials said the clustering of high-profile events would mean a considerable deployment of police personnel and other security arrangements, making it difficult to accommodate spontaneous street celebrations.

What comes next

RCB has indicated it will work with state authorities to identify “safe, structured” ways to mark the win, possibly through closed stadium events or controlled fan zones. State officials said they would consider requests but will prioritise public safety and law-and-order requirements.

Legal and administrative follow-up

Last year’s stampede led to administrative inquiries and calls for better crowd management at sporting events. Legal experts say any future celebration will have to satisfy stricter permissions and documented crowd-control plans, or risk fresh legal challenges.