Even before any formal announcement, celebrations broke out in Shivakumar’s camp on Wednesday, with supporters distributing sweets and bursting crackers in anticipation of the eight-time MLA becoming the next chief minister.
In a move widely seen as carrying political significance ahead of his likely exit, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday formally accepted the long-pending socio-educational survey report, commonly referred to as the caste census report, from the State Backward Classes Commission. The acceptance of the report sets in motion one of the long-pursued political and social initiatives associated with both Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“I think the Chief Minister may give his resignation tomorrow (Thursday) after 3 PM,” Congress MLA Ashok M Pattan, considered a close loyalist of Siddaramaiah, told media persons amid intense speculation that the chief minister was preparing to meet the Governor.
There were further indications that Siddaramaiah’s exit may now be imminent. One of his key aides vacated his office on Wednesday and posed for group photographs with colleagues. Several members of the chief minister’s office staff were seen in tears as Siddaramaiah left his office after work for the day, with some requesting him not to resign.
Also Read: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah seeks Governor’s appointment
The 77-year-old veteran leader is scheduled to host a breakfast meeting with cabinet colleagues, including Shivakumar, on Thursday morning. After the meeting, he is expected to address a press conference where he may publicly spell out his future plans following discussions held in Delhi on Tuesday with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
A change of leadership in the three-year-old Congress government in Karnataka now appears increasingly likely after Siddaramaiah sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, a day after he was apparently asked by the Congress leadership to step aside and facilitate Shivakumar’s elevation.
Despite the growing political buzz, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday declined to comment directly on the developments and only said he would speak on the matter on Thursday.
As political uncertainty deepened in Karnataka, AICC General Secretary in charge of the state Randeep Singh Surjewala sought to cool speculation by saying the Congress had not convened any meeting of its legislature party and that no final decision had yet been taken. He appealed to the media not to speculate on the issue.
Under Congress procedure, the legislature party formally elects its leader, who then becomes the chief minister.
The latest developments follow reports that the Congress high command had asked Siddaramaiah to pave the way for a leadership transition while also offering him a larger role at the national level along with a Rajya Sabha seat. According to reports, Siddaramaiah has not immediately agreed to take up the proposed central role.
PTI, citing sources, had reported that there were indications Siddaramaiah may have decided to step down because the message came directly from Rahul Gandhi. The chief minister had repeatedly maintained in the past that he would vacate the post if the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha asked him to do so.
Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to Delhi by the Congress leadership on Tuesday. The meetings at the party headquarters involved Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The struggle over Karnataka’s top post has persisted since the Congress returned to power by defeating the BJP in the May 2023 Assembly elections.
Also Read: How Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar became a big headache for Congress
While Siddaramaiah emerged as the party’s strongest mass leader and administrative face in the state, Shivakumar was credited with rebuilding the Congress organisation in Karnataka and playing a central role in the party’s electoral comeback.
Following days of negotiations in Delhi after the election victory, the Congress leadership eventually appointed Siddaramaiah as chief minister and Shivakumar as deputy chief minister.
However, almost immediately after the government was formed, speculation began over an alleged “2.5-year formula” under which Shivakumar was expected to take over as chief minister midway through the government’s five-year term.
The Congress leadership never officially confirmed the existence of any such arrangement, but the issue continued to hang over the government from its very first year in office.
Over the past years, the divide within the state unit sharpened further as leaders and legislators increasingly aligned themselves with either Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar, turning the leadership issue into one of the party’s most closely watched internal battles.
