Siddaramaiah quits! DK Shivakumar likely to claim Karnataka CM chair
The decision came after a series of meetings between Karnataka leaders and Congress top brass in Delhi last week. Senior party leaders held meetings with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar before finalizing the leadership change.
The critical breakfast meeting called by Siddaramaiah began on Thursday as the state braced for imminent leadership change. During the meet, Shivakumar was seen touching Siddaramaiah as a sign of respect.
This move marks the end of the long-running power struggle within the Karnataka Congress, soon after the party returns to power in the 2023 Assembly elections.
After Congress defeats BJP in Karnataka in 2023, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have emerged as strong candidates for the chief minister’s post. While Siddaramaiah was eventually elected as the chief minister, Shivakumar was appointed deputy CM after days of negotiations in Delhi.
Since then, speculation about a possible rotating chief minister arrangement has continued to dominate Karnataka politics, but the Congress has never officially sanctioned such an arrangement.
Over the past few months, leaders belonging to both camps have repeatedly made public statements in support of Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar, turning the succession issue into one of the biggest internal challenges for the Congress leadership. The issue has intensified again in recent weeks as the Karnataka government approaches the halfway mark of its tenure, reviving political chatter about whether the Congress will eventually hand over the leadership to Shivakumar.
According to media reports, the transition period is expected to see a cabinet reshuffle and organizational changes in the Karnataka Congress as the party tries to balance rival factions in the state unit.
Lok Bhavan officials said Siddaramaiah did not seek time to meet state Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. Officials said Gehlot was in his hometown Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
“His Excellency is not here. There is no such information. As of now, there is no such message or information,” a senior Lok Bhavan official told PTI when asked if the prime minister had sought time to meet Gehlot.
According to the official, Siddaramaiah will have to meet the Governor when he arrives.
Asked whether the CM would hand over the resignation to the Lok Bhavan secretary, the official said Siddaramaiah “can do so if he wants”.
When asked if this is as valid as handing it over to the Governor, the official said, “Yes. He will confirm it later when His Excellency comes. His Excellency may also ask Siddaramaiah to come and hand it over personally, as per the procedure.”
