Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that he would step down from the top post, telling his cabinet colleagues during a breakfast meeting in Bengaluru that Deputy Chief Minister DK
Shivakumar would take over as the next Chief Minister.
Speaking to reporters after the breakfast meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah at his residence, Karnataka Minister HK Patil said, “The Chief Minister will resign at 3 o’clock. Siddaramaiah said that we will make DK Shivakumar the new Chief Minister, he will become the Chief Minister.”
The announcement marks a major political development in Karnataka and signals a leadership transition within the Congress government after days of intense speculation over a possible change at the top.
EMOTIONAL SCENES AT CHIEF MINISTER’S RESIDENCE
The breakfast meeting attended by Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and cabinet colleagues witnessed emotional scenes as the transition appeared all but confirmed.
Pictures shared by the Chief Minister’s Office showed Siddaramaiah hugging an emotional Shivakumar.
In another image, Shivakumar was seen touching Siddaramaiah’s feet and seeking his blessings, visuals that quickly became symbolic of the changing political guard in Karnataka.
The developments unfolded amid growing indications that the Congress high command had decided on a leadership change in the state.
According to official sources, Siddaramaiah informed his cabinet colleagues during the breakfast meeting about his decision to resign from the Chief Minister’s post.
GOVERNOR APPOINTMENT YET TO BE FINAL
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said Siddaramaiah had sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot after the Congress leadership apparently asked him to make way for a new Chief Minister.
However, sources at Lok Bhavan said the Chief Minister had not formally sought time with the Governor yet.
Governor Gehlot has reportedly travelled to his native Indore for personal reasons.
The uncertainty regarding the Governor’s availability added suspense to the timing of the formal resignation process, even as political activity intensified in Bengaluru.
The latest developments come after Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to New Delhi earlier this week for meetings with the Congress leadership.
The meetings reportedly involved Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
According to reports, the Congress high command asked Siddaramaiah to make way for a leadership change and offered him a central role in the party along with a Rajya Sabha seat.
However, Siddaramaiah is said not to have immediately accepted the proposal regarding a role at the national level.
The transition is expected to reshape the political balance within the Karnataka Congress, where both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have remained the party’s two most influential leaders.
