Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has decided to step down. Siddaramaiah handed his resignation letter to the Lok Bhavan officials on Thursday as governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was away in Indore. ANIAlso read: 'No interest in national politics': Siddaramaiah rejects Rajya Sabha seatHe resigned as Karnataka CM, paving the way for his deputy, DK Shivakumar, to take over the top job. Soon after submitting his resignation, Siddaramaiah told the media that his action came in deference to the party high command's instructions. The party high command and the legislature party will decide on the new leader, he said.The ruling Congress is said to plan the next moves as it will schedule the Congress Legislature Party meeting, where MLAs will formally choose their new leader.Siddaramaiah thanked Sonia Gandhi for admitting him into Congress two decades ago and Rahul Gandhi for the opportunities given to him.The outgoing CM confirmed that the All India Congress Committee had offered him a nomination to the Rajya Sabha, but he had politely declined the offer. "I have never been interested in national politics," he said, adding that he still had two more years of term as MLA.However, he said he will remain active in state politics and continue to fight for social justice and against forces of communalism that oppose the Constitution "until my last breath."The oath-taking ceremony of Siddaramaiah's successor is unlikely to happen this week, people familiar with the matter told ET.