Bengaluru: The prolonged leadership tussle within the Karnataka Congress appears to have finally reached its climax, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly agreeing to step down from his post following intense discussions with the party high command in New Delhi. According to highly placed party sources, Siddaramaiah is expected to officially announce his resignation later today, paving the way for the selection of a new leader to head the Congress government in the state.
The dramatic development comes after nearly seven hours of marathon meetings held at the AICC headquarters in the national capital on Tuesday. Senior Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K. C. Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala held multiple rounds of discussions with Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar regarding the future leadership structure in Karnataka.
Sources said the final breakthrough came during a closed-door one-on-one meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah, where the Congress leadership reportedly convinced the veteran leader that a transition in leadership had become necessary in view of future electoral strategies and internal party commitments.
Power-sharing formula reportedly implemented
According to party insiders, the Congress high command has now decided to implement the “power-sharing formula” that was allegedly discussed when the Congress came to power in Karnataka after the 2023 Assembly elections. Under this arrangement, Siddaramaiah would step down midway through the government’s tenure, allowing another leader to take charge as Chief Minister.
Sources claimed that the high command also offered Siddaramaiah a larger role in national politics, including the possibility of a Rajya Sabha berth. Additionally, discussions reportedly included a proposal to accommodate Siddaramaiah’s son, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, in the state cabinet with a possible Deputy Chief Minister position in the new political arrangement.
Siddaramaiah resists pressure from loyalists
Immediately after the Delhi meetings concluded, Siddaramaiah is said to have held a late-night discussion with some of his trusted ministers, including Dr. G. Parameshwara, K. J. George, M. B. Patil and Byrathi Suresh. During the meeting, several loyalists reportedly urged him not to resign and requested him to reconsider the decision.
However, sources indicate that Siddaramaiah remained firm and conveyed that he would honour the direction of the party leadership. He is learnt to have told his close associates that he could not reject Rahul Gandhi’s request and was prepared to step down in the interest of party unity.
High command leaders arriving in Bengaluru
Political activity has intensified in Bengaluru following the developments in Delhi. Siddaramaiah returned to the city late Tuesday night along with senior ministers and advisers. The Chief Minister is expected to participate in official programmes scheduled for Wednesday morning before making a major political announcement later in the day.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala are also expected to arrive in Bengaluru to oversee the transition process. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting is likely to be convened soon to formally elect the next leader of the legislature party.
Though the party has not officially announced the name of the next Chief Minister, strong indications suggest that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has emerged as the frontrunner for the top post. Supporters of Shivakumar have already begun celebrations in parts of Bengaluru and Ramanagara amid growing expectations of a leadership change.
