Reports Claim Congress May Ask Siddaramaiah to Step Down as Karnataka Chief Minister
Leadership change speculation intensifies as Congress high command holds marathon Delhi meetings with Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar
Political uncertainty has gripped Karnataka after multiple media reports claimed that the Congress leadership may ask Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to resign, potentially paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to take over the state’s top post. The speculation intensified following a series of high-level meetings in New Delhi involving senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Several reports citing party sources suggested that Siddaramaiah could resign within days as part of an internal power-sharing arrangement between the two senior Karnataka leaders. According to NDTV and other national outlets, the Congress high command has reportedly backed Shivakumar’s claim for the chief minister’s post after months of internal negotiations.
Sources quoted by multiple media organizations claimed Siddaramaiah may be offered a larger national role in the Congress party, possibly through a Rajya Sabha berth, as the party prepares for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and seeks to strengthen its Other Backward Classes (OBC) leadership at the national level.
The political buzz grew stronger after reports emerged that Siddaramaiah called a breakfast meeting with ministers and senior leaders in Bengaluru, while Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala was scheduled to visit Karnataka amid the unfolding developments.
Despite the mounting speculation, Congress leaders have officially denied any immediate leadership change. Party representatives stated that recent Delhi discussions focused only on Rajya Sabha elections, Legislative Council matters, and organizational issues. The Congress high command publicly dismissed reports of a power struggle, calling them “speculation” without “any reality.”
The leadership issue has its roots in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, when Congress returned to power after defeating the BJP. At the time, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were both contenders for the chief minister’s post, and reports of a rotational power-sharing formula had circulated widely, although the party never officially confirmed such an agreement.
If a transition occurs, it would represent one of the most significant political reshuffles in Karnataka since Congress returned to power. Analysts believe the party is trying to avoid factional conflict similar to past crises in states like Rajasthan by negotiating a compromise between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps.
For now, no formal resignation has been announced, and Siddaramaiah continues to function as Chief Minister. However, the rapid succession of meetings, conflicting public statements, and coordinated political messaging have fueled widespread speculation that Karnataka may soon witness a major leadership transition.
