Karnataka Congress Crisis Highlights: Siddaramaiah tells close aides he will resign on Thursday

The Karnataka State Federation of Backward Class Communities on Wednesday warned the Congress and its high command that the party will face consequences if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is replaced.

Asserting that Congress came to power because of the support of the backward class and AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) communities, federation leaders said there is no other leader of Siddaramaiah's stature in the Congress party, and warned of agitation if he is made to step down.

"If the reports that Siddaramaiah's resignation has been sought are true, 70 per cent of the community that has identified itself with the Congress party will come to zero-we will show it in the days ahead," he said.

Supporters of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gathered outside his official residence in Bengaluru on Wednesday, protesting amid intense speculation that he may step down.

Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala arrived at the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi said party leaders have only been getting information from the media regarding the leadership change and are completely in the dark about the issue.

"We will only know after tomorrow's breakfast meeting what is happening in Karnataka. Till then, we are just watching what is coming on TV and reading in newspapers. We don't know anything yet. We are completely blank on this issue," he said.

Kuruba community members have announced a protest on Thursday in Kalburgi over the speculated resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is from the same community. "Let us stand in support of the Ahinda leader, Siddaramaiah," a poster said.

Ahinda stands fo Alpasankhyataru (minorities), Hindulidavaru (backward classes/OBCs), and Dalitaru (Dalits and Adivasis).

Watch: Supporters of CM Siddaramaiah gather outside his residence in Bengaluru amid the leadership tussle within the ruling Congress party in Karnataka.

(With agency inputs)

Siddaramaiah received the report of the caste census conducted in the state at Vidhana Soudha.

Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that his government has fulfilled all the promises made to the people of the state, as his government completed three years in office on May 20.

"With the blessings of the people of the state, as we complete three meaningful years in power, we dedicate the credit for all the achievements of our government to every Kannadiga," the Chief Minister said in a message on X.

AICC observer and Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, who arrived in Bengaluru amid the buzz over a possible change of guard, said no decision has been finalised so far and that any decision would be taken keeping the interests of the people of Karnataka in mind.

“As KC Venugopal ji said yesterday, currently no meeting of the legislature party has been called by the Congress party. No other decision has yet been taken. As things evolve, we will inform you. I want to assure every brother and sister of Karnataka, every single Kannadiga, that the only decision we will take will be in the interest of the people of Karnataka,” he said.

Karnataka BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that Rahul Gandhi mistreated Siddaramaiah, a backward class leader, in Delhi.

"This government has totally failed in Karnataka. They have ditched the Dalit community in the process of this change. Siddaramaiah is a backward class leader and he was ill-treated yesterday by Rahul Gandhi," he said.

Senior Congress leader RV Deshpande said Siddaramaiah told him that he had decided to resign as Chief Minister. Other top leaders also shared the same development.

After meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka minister HK Patil said the ministers and party leaders "expressed our concerns", but "he remained silent". Patil added that they may meet again.

Congress MLA RV Deshpande said that "the Chief Minister has already decided to resign and he may resign tomorrow". He added, MLAs wanted Siddaramaiah to continue, but he said that "I have given my word to the high command".

Karnataka minister Shivaraj Tangadagi on Wednesday dismissed the ongoing buzz over a possible leadership change in the state as mere speculation, questioning who had said that the Chief Minister was resigning. However, he confirmed that he had been invited to attend a breakfast meeting hosted by the Chief Minister on Thursday morning.

“I received a call from the CM’s office informing my office that the Chief Minister has invited me for breakfast tomorrow at 9 am, and I will be attending it.

Who said that the CM is resigning? These are only discussions and speculation. No one has officially said anything, and even I have no information about it. I only know that I have been invited for the CM’s breakfast meeting,” he said.

With Siddaramaiah likely to step down as Karnataka Chief Minister, the stage appears set for a possible elevation of DK Shivakumar to the top post. Here’s how Shivakumar outmanoeuvred Siddaramaiah in the high-stakes power tussle within the Congress.

Read our analysis here.

Supporters of DK Shivakumar began celebrations amid reports that Siddaramaiah is likely to step down as Chief Minister on Thursday.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra on Wednesday took a swipe at Congress, saying that the party high command's possible "decision" was to replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after concluding that the state government had "failed" to provide good governance during the last three years.

"The Congress high command has today acknowledged that the party government led by Siddaramaiah has failed to provide good governance during the last three years, and has therefore decided to change the chief minister," he told reporters.