After months of speculation and years of internal balancing, the Indian National Congress appears set to finally execute a major leadership transition in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to step down on Thursday, paving the way for his deputy DK Shivakumar to take over the state’s top post, sources told CNN-News18.
The anticipated transition comes nearly three years after Congress returned to power in Karnataka, ending a prolonged power tussle between the party’s two tallest state leaders that the high command had carefully managed since the 2023 Assembly victory.
While Siddaramaiah emerged as the consensus chief ministerial face after the election, Shivakumar, as Karnataka Congress chief, was widely credited for rebuilding the organisation
and engineering the party’s comeback.
The leadership change now appears to be moving forward after a high-stakes meeting in New Delhi attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar on Tuesday.
#BreakingNews | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is likely to resign by Friday amid Congress’ leadership churn. Sources say he may be accommodated with a Rajya Sabha seat as Dy CM DK Shivakumar eyes the top post@tushar15 shares his views @harishupadhya and @_pallavighosh decode more… pic.twitter.com/O2X6JhawqG
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 26, 2026
Sources close to Siddaramaiah said the Chief Minister has called all ministers for breakfast at his residence on Thursday, further fuelling speculation that the transition process is entering its final stage. Surjewala is also expected to arrive in Bengaluru later in the day.
Also Read | Shivakumar To Replace Siddaramaiah As Karnataka CM After Congress High Command’s Nod | Top Points
How Congress Persuaded Siddaramaiah
According to sources, the Congress high command made a concerted effort to ensure Siddaramaiah’s exit is politically respectable and strategically beneficial for the party.
The leadership reportedly assured Siddaramaiah of a larger national role ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, positioning him as a key OBC face for the party at the national level.
Sources told CNN-News18 that Siddaramaiah could subsequently be moved to the Rajya Sabha as part of a broader political recalibration within Congress.
Party leaders also assured him that he would continue to play an influential role in shaping Karnataka politics, including having a say in the selection of key ministers and future political appointments in the state.
The Congress is also believed to have emphasised the need for unity ahead of the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections, with Rahul Gandhi reportedly playing a direct role in ensuring both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar remained aligned during the transition process.
Rajya Sabha Calculations Also In Focus
Even as speculation over the chief ministerial change intensifies, the Congress has not yet officially announced its candidates for the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka.
Of the four Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant, the Congress is expected to comfortably win three, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to secure one.
Kharge’s Rajya Sabha term is ending in June, and he is expected to be re-elected from Karnataka.
The party is also considering fielding Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh for one of the seats, along with either a woman candidate or an OBC nominee as part of its broader caste and political balancing strategy.
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