New Delhi: In a dramatic political development in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that he would step down from office, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over as the next Chief Minister of the state.
The announcement came during a breakfast meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah at his Bengaluru residence, where senior cabinet colleagues gathered amid growing speculation over a possible leadership transition within the Congress government. Karnataka minister HK Patil later confirmed that Siddaramaiah had informed ministers about his decision to resign and support Shivakumar’s elevation to the top post.
The meeting witnessed emotional moments as the outgoing Chief Minister and Shivakumar shared an embrace, underlining the significance of the transition. In another symbolic gesture, Shivakumar was seen touching Siddaramaiah’s feet and seeking his blessings, visuals that quickly gained attention as signs of a changing political era in Karnataka.
The Congress leadership had reportedly been considering a change in leadership for several days, with intense discussions taking place at the national level. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were recently summoned to New Delhi for meetings with senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Reports indicate that the Congress high command requested Siddaramaiah to make way for a new leadership arrangement while also offering him a larger organisational role at the national level along with a Rajya Sabha seat. However, he is understood to have not immediately agreed to the proposal.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over the formal resignation process as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is reportedly away in Indore for personal reasons. Although Siddaramaiah is expected to submit his resignation later in the day, no official appointment with the Governor had been confirmed at the time of the announcement.
The leadership transition is expected to significantly reshape the balance of power within the Karnataka Congress, where Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have long remained the party’s two most influential figures.
