Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is widely expected to tender his resignation on Thursday, May 28, signaling a significant leadership transition within the state's ruling Congress party. Sources close to the Chief Minister's Office indicate Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for the anticipated resignation.
The impending move has intensified focus on Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is considered the leading contender to replace Siddaramaiah. The speculation follows days of high-level discussions in Delhi involving key Karnataka leaders and the Congress high command, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
Succession Talks Dominate Delhi Meetings
While the Congress leadership publicly stated that the Delhi meetings primarily addressed upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls, insiders suggest that the central agenda revolved around the leadership change in Karnataka. There have been reports that Siddaramaiah was encouraged to transition into national politics, potentially via the Rajya Sabha, to assume a broader organizational role ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala is scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru on Thursday. He is expected to hold consultations with senior party figures, aiming to manage the transition smoothly and mitigate any potential factional tensions that may arise.
Unresolved Power-Sharing Tensions Resurface
The anticipated resignation brings to the forefront the long-standing power-sharing dynamics within the Karnataka Congress. Since the party's return to power in 2023, supporters of D.K. Shivakumar have consistently asserted that an agreement for a rotational chief ministership was in place. However, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have refrained from public comment on this matter, and the Congress party has officially denied any discussions about replacing the Chief Minister.
Siddaramaiah is also slated to host a breakfast meeting for his cabinet at his Bengaluru residence on Thursday morning, just hours before his expected meeting with Governor Gehlot.