Siddaramaiah blesses DK Shivakumar, Karnataka set to get new Chief Minister
With Siddaramaiah set to resign as Chief Minister after discussions with the Congress high command, his deputy DK Shivakumar has emerged as the frontrunner to lead Karnataka's next government.
Karnataka is set for a change of guard after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday informed his Cabinet colleagues of his decision to resign, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over as the state's next Chief Minister.
The announcement came during a breakfast meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah at his official residence in Bengaluru, attended by Shivakumar and several Cabinet ministers.
Photographs released by the Chief Minister's Office captured emotional scenes between the two Congress leaders. In one image, Siddaramaiah was seen embracing Shivakumar, while another showed the Deputy Chief Minister touching Siddaramaiah's feet and seeking his blessings.
Sources in the Chief Minister's Office said Siddaramaiah sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot after the Congress high command reportedly conveyed that a leadership transition should take place in Karnataka. According to officials, Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit Lok Bhavan at 2.30 pm to submit his resignation and is expected to address a press conference at 3 pm later in the day.
However, Raj Bhavan officials said Governor Gehlot is currently away from Bengaluru and has travelled to Indore due to a family emergency.
Soon after the breakfast meeting, Karnataka Law Minister H. K. Patil confirmed that Siddaramaiah had informed ministers about his decision to step down and that Shivakumar would succeed him.
"The CM, quoting discussions with the high command, has said that he will resign. There is no point of dissent anywhere. It is unanimous and everyone is agreeable to whatever the high command has said," Patil said.
OUTGOING CM'S EMOTION SPEECH
Speaking at the breakfast meeting with cabinet colleagues ahead of his resignation, Siddaramaiah struck an emotional note as he reflected on his long political journey with them.
"Over the last 20 years, I have shouted at many of you, lost my temper and spoken harshly at times. Please do not take it personally or keep it in your heart. Whatever I did was in the interest of the party and the government. All of you have stood by me through these years, and I thank you for your support," Siddaramaiah told cabinet ministers during the breakfast meeting.
DELHI AWAITS SIDDARAMAIAH
After tendering his resignation, Siddaramaiah is set to travel to Delhi later in the evening to meet Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi.
Sources said he is expected to reach Delhi around 7 pm, accompanied by Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala. He will meet the party high command and is likely to hold a one-on-one discussion with Rahul Gandhi.
The meeting is expected to focus on his future role in the party, with the leadership set to finalise the responsibilities he may be assigned going ahead.
Earlier, India Today had reported that during a 50-minute conversation with Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah was offered a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka. It was also suggested that he could be given a significant organisational role at the Centre in the run-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Party leaders are also expected to impress upon him his importance as one of the Congress's key OBC faces nationally, with plans to utilise his influence to strengthen outreach among backward communities.
KARNATAKA POWER SWITCH
The latest developments came amid reports that the Congress high command has asked Siddaramaiah to step aside as part of a leadership transition in Karnataka, while also offering him a role at the national level along with a Rajya Sabha berth.
However, sources told India Today TV that Siddaramaiah was not keen on moving to the Rajya Sabha and instead preferred to continue as an MLA.
Sources also said that Siddaramaiah may have agreed to step down after the message reportedly came directly from senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Chief Minister had earlier maintained that he would resign if asked to do so by the Gandhi scion.
Amid growing buzz over a possible resignation, supporters of Siddaramaiah assembled outside his official residence and raised slogans in his support.
The power struggle within the ruling Congress had sharpened after the government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year tenure on November 20, 2025, fuelling renewed speculation over a change in leadership.
Following the Congress victory in the May 2023 Assembly polls, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who also heads the party's Karnataka unit, were strong contenders for the top post. The party eventually persuaded Shivakumar to accept the deputy Chief Minister's role.
At the time, reports had suggested that the leadership deadlock was resolved through a "rotational chief minister" arrangement under which Shivakumar would take over after two-and-a-half years. However, the Congress has never officially acknowledged such an agreement.
Karnataka is set for a change of guard after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday informed his Cabinet colleagues of his decision to resign, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over as the state's next Chief Minister.
The announcement came during a breakfast meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah at his official residence in Bengaluru, attended by Shivakumar and several Cabinet ministers.
Photographs released by the Chief Minister's Office captured emotional scenes between the two Congress leaders. In one image, Siddaramaiah was seen embracing Shivakumar, while another showed the Deputy Chief Minister touching Siddaramaiah's feet and seeking his blessings.
Sources in the Chief Minister's Office said Siddaramaiah sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot after the Congress high command reportedly conveyed that a leadership transition should take place in Karnataka. According to officials, Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit Lok Bhavan at 2.30 pm to submit his resignation and is expected to address a press conference at 3 pm later in the day.
However, Raj Bhavan officials said Governor Gehlot is currently away from Bengaluru and has travelled to Indore due to a family emergency.
Soon after the breakfast meeting, Karnataka Law Minister H. K. Patil confirmed that Siddaramaiah had informed ministers about his decision to step down and that Shivakumar would succeed him.
"The CM, quoting discussions with the high command, has said that he will resign. There is no point of dissent anywhere. It is unanimous and everyone is agreeable to whatever the high command has said," Patil said.
OUTGOING CM'S EMOTION SPEECH
Speaking at the breakfast meeting with cabinet colleagues ahead of his resignation, Siddaramaiah struck an emotional note as he reflected on his long political journey with them.
"Over the last 20 years, I have shouted at many of you, lost my temper and spoken harshly at times. Please do not take it personally or keep it in your heart. Whatever I did was in the interest of the party and the government. All of you have stood by me through these years, and I thank you for your support," Siddaramaiah told cabinet ministers during the breakfast meeting.
DELHI AWAITS SIDDARAMAIAH
After tendering his resignation, Siddaramaiah is set to travel to Delhi later in the evening to meet Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi.
Sources said he is expected to reach Delhi around 7 pm, accompanied by Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala. He will meet the party high command and is likely to hold a one-on-one discussion with Rahul Gandhi.
The meeting is expected to focus on his future role in the party, with the leadership set to finalise the responsibilities he may be assigned going ahead.
Earlier, India Today had reported that during a 50-minute conversation with Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah was offered a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka. It was also suggested that he could be given a significant organisational role at the Centre in the run-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Party leaders are also expected to impress upon him his importance as one of the Congress's key OBC faces nationally, with plans to utilise his influence to strengthen outreach among backward communities.
KARNATAKA POWER SWITCH
The latest developments came amid reports that the Congress high command has asked Siddaramaiah to step aside as part of a leadership transition in Karnataka, while also offering him a role at the national level along with a Rajya Sabha berth.
However, sources told India Today TV that Siddaramaiah was not keen on moving to the Rajya Sabha and instead preferred to continue as an MLA.
Sources also said that Siddaramaiah may have agreed to step down after the message reportedly came directly from senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Chief Minister had earlier maintained that he would resign if asked to do so by the Gandhi scion.
Amid growing buzz over a possible resignation, supporters of Siddaramaiah assembled outside his official residence and raised slogans in his support.
The power struggle within the ruling Congress had sharpened after the government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year tenure on November 20, 2025, fuelling renewed speculation over a change in leadership.
Following the Congress victory in the May 2023 Assembly polls, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who also heads the party's Karnataka unit, were strong contenders for the top post. The party eventually persuaded Shivakumar to accept the deputy Chief Minister's role.
At the time, reports had suggested that the leadership deadlock was resolved through a "rotational chief minister" arrangement under which Shivakumar would take over after two-and-a-half years. However, the Congress has never officially acknowledged such an agreement.
