Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to step down from his post following sustained intervention by the Congress high command, with the party leadership now working to facilitate a smooth transfer of power to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar amid mounting speculation over a long-discussed power-sharing arrangement in the state.
Sources within the Congress said the broad contours of the transition were discussed during marathon meetings in New Delhi involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. While the party officially denied any discussion on leadership change, insiders indicated that the Congress leadership urged Siddaramaiah to pave the way for what was described as a generational and organisational transition in Karnataka.
According to party sources, the Congress leadership is attempting to execute the change without triggering factional unrest in a state that remains the party’s most important southern stronghold. A formal announcement is expected after further consultations with legislators and a possible Congress Legislature Party meeting in Bengaluru.
The latest developments have revived political debate over an alleged understanding reached after the Congress’ emphatic Assembly victory in 2023, under which Shivakumar was expected to eventually assume the Chief Minister’s post after the government completed roughly half its term. Although the Congress leadership has never publicly acknowledged such an agreement, Shivakumar’s supporters have repeatedly maintained that a power-sharing formula existed from the beginning.
Sources, familiar with the negotiations, said Siddaramaiah has been offered a larger national role as part of the transition plan. The proposals reportedly include a Rajya Sabha berth, an expanded responsibility for the party in Delhi and political accommodation for his son Yathindra within the state structure. However, insiders said initially Siddaramaiah remained reluctant, seeking time to consult loyal ministers and close advisers before taking a final decision.
Soon after returning to Bengaluru, the incumbent chief minister held a series of consultations with ministers and supporters, including a breakfast meeting viewed by many within the party as an effort to assess the mood among loyalists and demonstrate his continuing influence within the legislature party. The veteran leader still commands considerable support among backward-class communities and within a substantial section of Congress MLAs, making the transition politically sensitive for the party leadership.
Despite the intensifying speculation, the Congress party publicly sought to dismiss reports of an imminent leadership change. Speaking after nearly six hours of closed-door meetings in Delhi, Venugopal insisted that the discussions were confined to preparations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections in Karnataka, along with organisational matters concerning several states.
“There is no discussion regarding leadership change in Karnataka. The meetings were only about election preparations and organisational issues,” Venugopal told reporters, urging the media not to indulge in “speculation”.
Yet the unusually prolonged deliberations, combined with separate meetings involving Karnataka’s top leadership, only deepened the political suspense. Neither Siddaramaiah nor Shivakumar directly addressed the succession issue after the meetings. Shivakumar briefly stated that all decisions would be taken collectively by the party leadership and maintained that the Congress government remained stable.
Behind the scenes, however, party insiders said the Congress high command is increasingly concerned that prolonged uncertainty over succession could deepen factional divisions and begin affecting governance. Reports submitted to the central leadership are understood to have flagged concerns over organisational cohesion, anti-incumbency trends and the impact of continuing rivalry between supporters of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
The leadership transition question has unfolded alongside growing pressure for a Cabinet reshuffle. Several Congress MLAs who played a key role in the party’s sweeping 2023 Assembly victory have been demanding ministerial berths or greater organisational responsibilities. Any reshuffle, however, involves a delicate balancing exercise across caste groups, regional representation and factional loyalties.
The timing of the political maneuvering has become even more significant because Karnataka is preparing for Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for June 18. With the Congress expected to comfortably secure three of the four seats owing to its numerical strength in the Assembly, candidate selection has emerged as another arena for balancing competing interests within the party.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) meanwhile intensified its attack on the Congress government, accusing it of being consumed by internal power struggles while governance issues remain neglected. BJP leaders described the developments as evidence of “Delhi durbar politics” overshadowing administration in Karnataka.
For the Congress leadership, however, the challenge extends beyond a mere change of guard. Karnataka is central to the party’s national political strategy and remains one of the few major states where it governs independently. Ensuring a smooth transfer of power without triggering rebellion or instability is therefore critical not only for the survival of the government in Bengaluru but also for the Congress’ broader efforts to project unity and stability ahead of future electoral contests.
As the Congress attempts to choreograph a carefully calibrated transition, the coming days are likely to determine whether the party succeeds in balancing ambition, authority and regional power equations — or whether Karnataka once again becomes the stage for a prolonged internal confrontation within the ruling party.