Karnataka CM suspense deepens as Siddaramaiah weighs resignation amid Governor’s absence

A leadership transition in Karnataka appeared imminent on Thursday, with mounting indications that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah could resign to pave the way for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over the top post.

However, uncertainty remained over the timing of any formal move as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was reportedly away from Bengaluru due to a family emergency. According to sources, the Governor left the city late Wednesday night for Indore, his hometown, and had not yet scheduled a return.

Despite this, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said Siddaramaiah was expected to submit his resignation to the Governor’s office. Earlier reports suggested the veteran Congress leader could step down around 11 am after hosting a breakfast meeting for cabinet colleagues, including Shivakumar, at his residence.

The developments followed a series of high-level meetings in Delhi on Wednesday involving Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.

While the Congress leadership officially maintained silence on the speculation, Surjewala urged the media not to jump to conclusions, noting that no Congress Legislature Party meeting had been convened and no formal announcement had been made.

If a leadership change takes place, the Congress Legislature Party would formally elect a new leader, who would then stake claim to form the government.

Even as the party avoided public confirmation, intense political activity fuelled speculation that Siddaramaiah had agreed to step aside after receiving a clear message from the Congress high command. Reports also suggested that the party leadership had offered him a larger national role along with a Rajya Sabha berth, though no formal acceptance had been announced.

Sources indicated that Rahul Gandhi personally intervened to persuade Siddaramaiah to relinquish the post. The Chief Minister had previously stated publicly that he would resign if asked to do so by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Senior Congress MLA and Administrative Reforms Commission chairperson RV Deshpande further intensified the buzz by claiming Siddaramaiah had personally informed him about his decision to resign. According to Deshpande, several legislators urged the Chief Minister to reconsider, but Siddaramaiah reportedly said he intended to honour the commitment made to the party leadership.

Throughout Wednesday, ministers and MLAs continued visiting Siddaramaiah’s residence in Bengaluru, with many urging him to continue in office and proposing that the issue be discussed in a Congress Legislature Party meeting. Sources, however, said the Chief Minister did not respond favourably to such suggestions.

Publicly, Siddaramaiah remained guarded and declined to comment on his political future, saying he would speak on the matter on Thursday.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara also avoided commenting on the Delhi discussions, saying only those present were aware of what transpired. He dismissed speculation about his own possible elevation and stressed that all party leaders must abide by the high command’s decision.

The possibility of a leadership change also triggered strong reactions outside the Congress. The Karnataka State Federation of Backward Class Communities warned the party against replacing Siddaramaiah, arguing that the Congress had returned to power because of support from backward classes, minorities and Dalits under the AHINDA social coalition.

Federation leaders claimed no other Congress leader matched Siddaramaiah’s stature and warned of protests if he was removed from office.

Meanwhile, celebrations broke out among Shivakumar supporters across Bengaluru, Ramanagara and other parts of Karnataka amid expectations that he could soon become the state’s next Chief Minister. Supporters gathered outside Shivakumar’s residence late Wednesday night after his return from Delhi.

At the same time, Siddaramaiah loyalists assembled outside the Chief Minister’s official residence, raising slogans and protesting against reports of his removal.

Siddaramaiah’s public appearances on Wednesday further added to speculation. He visited Vidhana Soudha to pay floral tributes to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary and later received the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission’s socio-economic and educational survey report, widely referred to as the caste census report and considered one of the flagship initiatives of his government.

According to official sources, several staff members at the Chief Minister’s Office and Secretariat greeted Siddaramaiah emotionally at Vidhana Soudha, with the atmosphere resembling a farewell moment.

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra mocked the Congress over the unfolding developments, claiming the high command had concluded that Siddaramaiah’s government had failed to provide effective governance over the past three years. He also predicted that Karnataka could face mid-term Assembly elections regardless of who eventually becomes Chief Minister.

The power struggle within the Karnataka Congress has persisted since the party returned to power in the 2023 Assembly elections. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had emerged as strong contenders for the Chief Minister’s post before the party leadership persuaded Shivakumar to accept the Deputy Chief Minister’s role.

Speculation over a rotational Chief Minister arrangement has continued ever since, with political circles frequently suggesting that Shivakumar would take over after two-and-a-half years. However, the Congress has never officially confirmed the existence of such an agreement.