Siddaramaiah likely to resign as Karnataka CM today, DK Shivakumar tipped to take over

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is expected to resign from his post at 3 pm on Thursday, according to leaders familiar with the developments, amid growing indications that the Congress leadership has cleared a transition in the state government.

The development comes after Siddaramaiah hosted a crucial breakfast meeting with deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and senior cabinet colleagues at his official residence in Bengaluru earlier in the day.

Sources said Siddaramaiah has also sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot later on Thursday, intensifying speculation that he may formally submit his resignation.

Congress MLA Ashok K Pattan told reporters there was a “100 per cent possibility” of Shivakumar becoming the next chief minister.

“The CM might resign after 3 pm on Thursday,” Pattan said.

Senior Congress MLA R V Deshpande also claimed Siddaramaiah had “decided to resign”, further fuelling reports of an imminent leadership change in Karnataka.

Congress yet to officially confirm leadership transition

Despite the mounting speculation, the Congress has not officially announced any change in leadership.

AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday insisted that no Congress Legislature Party meeting had been convened and that “no decision” had formally been taken regarding the chief ministership.

However, political activity within the party over the past two days has strongly indicated that discussions over a transition have reached an advanced stage.

The buzz intensified after Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar travelled to New Delhi earlier this week and met senior Congress leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

While the Congress maintained that the meetings focused on Rajya Sabha elections and legislative council matters, several party MLAs later hinted that the leadership issue had also been discussed.

Long-running power-sharing speculation resurfaces

Speculation surrounding a rotational chief minister arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has persisted ever since the Congress returned to power in Karnataka following the 2023 assembly elections.

At the time, both leaders were strong contenders for the top post before the party leadership persuaded Shivakumar to accept the deputy chief minister’s role.

Reports over the past several months had repeatedly suggested that Siddaramaiah would complete the first half of the government’s term before handing over charge to Shivakumar, though the Congress never publicly confirmed such an arrangement.

Celebrations among Shivakumar supporters

Supporters of DK Shivakumar gathered outside his Bengaluru residence on Thursday morning amid expectations that he could soon be sworn in as Karnataka’s next chief minister.

Celebrations were also reported from parts of Bengaluru and other districts as speculation over the transition intensified.

Siddaramaiah, however, had earlier publicly dismissed rumours surrounding his resignation and maintained that the Congress government would complete its full five-year term in Karnataka.