Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah may step down from his post following a series of high-level meetings with the Congress leadership in New Delhi, sources said on Tuesday, even as the party officially dismissed speculation over a leadership transition in the state.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Siddaramaiah is being considered for a larger national role through the Rajya Sabha as part of a possible political realignment within the Congress. However, insiders said the veteran leader is yet to be fully convinced about the move and has continued consultations with close ministers and advisers after returning from Delhi.
Meanwhile, the political buzz intensified after Siddaramaiah travelled to the national capital on Tuesday for meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Sources indicated that Shivakumar is emerging as the frontrunner to take over as chief minister if the Congress leadership proceeds with a transition plan. The prolonged consultations in Delhi, coupled with separate interactions involving Karnataka’s top leaders, further fuelled speculation that the party high command was attempting to address internal power equations within the state unit.
Despite mounting political chatter, Congress publicly rejected reports of any imminent leadership change. Speaking to reporters after nearly six hours of closed-door meetings, Venugopal said the discussions were confined to preparations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections in Karnataka, along with organisational matters in other states.
“There is no discussion regarding leadership change in Karnataka. The meetings were only about election preparations and organisational issues,” Venugopal said, urging the media not to indulge in “mere speculation.”
However, party insiders maintained that the unusually long meetings reflected growing efforts by the Congress leadership to balance the interests of camps aligned with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar ahead of key political battles. The uncertainty surrounding Siddaramaiah’s possible Rajya Sabha move has also added to the suspense over the party’s next steps in Karnataka.
Neither Siddaramaiah nor Shivakumar offered detailed comments following the meetings. Shivakumar briefly stated that all decisions would be taken collectively by the party leadership and reiterated that the Congress government remained stable.
The developments have once again revived debate over the Congress’s internal leadership dynamics in Karnataka, where speculation over a possible rotational arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has persisted since the party returned to power in 2023. While the Congress leadership has repeatedly denied the existence of any such formula, political observers say balancing the ambitions of both leaders has remained a key challenge for the party.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) criticised the Congress over the ongoing speculation, accusing the ruling party of being consumed by internal power struggles instead of governance.
For now, no official announcement has been made regarding a change in Karnataka’s leadership. Yet, Siddaramaiah’s meetings with the Congress high command and the continued uncertainty over his future role have ensured that speculation surrounding the state’s political leadership remains firmly in focus.