Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is reportedly set to tender his resignation on Thursday, May 27, 2026, marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape. This move is expected to resolve prolonged power-sharing disagreements within the ruling Congress party that have simmered since the government's formation two years ago.
As part of the anticipated transition, CM Siddaramaiah is scheduled to host a breakfast meeting for his entire cabinet at his residence Thursday morning before addressing a press conference in Bengaluru. Concurrently, Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala is arriving in the state capital to engage with key party leaders, aiming to facilitate a smooth leadership change and mitigate any factional pressures.
Congress High Command's National Strategy
Sources indicate that Siddaramaiah's impending resignation follows extensive discussions with the Congress high command in Delhi. He was reportedly encouraged to transition into national politics, potentially securing a Rajya Sabha seat, and assume a more prominent organizational role ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The party leadership views Siddaramaiah as a crucial OBC (Other Backward Classes) face nationally, essential for bolstering Rahul Gandhi's social justice and caste outreach initiatives. Senior leaders assured Siddaramaiah that his concerns would be addressed if he agreed to this strategic shift. Participants in these high-level talks included Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and Randeep Surjewala. While public statements focused on Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections, the central theme of these meetings was the leadership transition.
The Two-Year Power-Sharing Debate
Siddaramaiah's expected departure brings to the forefront the persistent speculation surrounding a rotational chief ministership agreement, which supporters of DK Shivakumar have frequently asserted was in place since the 2023 government formation. Although the Congress leadership never publicly confirmed such an arrangement, the notion has circulated within the state unit for nearly two years. With Siddaramaiah now likely to step down, DK Shivakumar is widely considered the leading candidate to succeed him.
The Congress leadership has reportedly framed this transition as a political elevation for Siddaramaiah, rather than a removal, to manage public perception and avoid appearing to oust a sitting Chief Minister.
Timeline and Unconfirmed Details
The timing of this development is critical, coinciding with the June 8 deadline for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections. This leaves the party little room for delay if it intends to move Siddaramaiah to the upper house as part of the leadership plan. Siddaramaiah had previously sought more time for a decision and has been consulting with his close aides and ministers since returning from Delhi.
Neither Siddaramaiah nor Shivakumar has publicly commented on the leadership issue, and the Congress party officially maintains that discussions about replacing the Karnataka Chief Minister have not taken place.