The long-running power tussle in Karnataka appears to have reached a turning point, with senior Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar emerging as the party leadership’s preferred choice for the Chief Minister’s post, sources told media.
According to sources, the Congress high command has unanimously backed Shivakumar’s claim to lead the state, while current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly been offered a Rajya Sabha berth and a larger national role in Delhi.
Sources said Siddaramaiah has sought time to consider the proposal and has already held discussions with his loyalists. During those meetings, he is believed to have stated that he would “abide by the decisions of the high command”. Sources further indicated that he could step down as early as tomorrow.
“The entire high command was for transition to DK Shivakumar,” sources said.
The development follows a marathon six-hour Congress meeting in Delhi earlier in the day. After the meeting, party General Secretary KC Venugopal publicly downplayed speculation over a leadership change and claimed discussions were centred around upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.
“Discussions were held regarding the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections. There is no truth to any other speculation,” Venugopal said in a brief statement.
Leadership Dispute Has Been Brewing Since 2023
The issue of leadership transition in Karnataka has remained unresolved for more than a year. Supporters of Shivakumar have repeatedly claimed that the Congress leadership had promised a rotational Chief Minister arrangement after the party formed the government following the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
At the time, Shivakumar — one of the Congress party’s tallest leaders in the state — was considered a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s post. According to his supporters, he agreed to serve as Deputy Chief Minister only after being assured that he would take over as Chief Minister after two-and-a-half years.
However, the Congress leadership had avoided disturbing the status quo due to Siddaramaiah’s strong support base among the AHINDA social coalition, which includes minorities, backward classes, and Dalits. The coalition played a major role in helping Congress break the traditional Vokkaliga-Lingayat caste equation during the 2023 elections.
Even when the leadership issue intensified around November — after the Siddaramaiah government completed two years in office — the Congress chose not to act, fearing a political backlash ahead of elections in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Now, with those elections over and growing pressure from Shivakumar’s camp, the party leadership appears ready to proceed with the transition, sources said.
Congress Leaders Divided Over Siddaramaiah Exit
Despite the apparent consensus at the national level, local Congress leaders in Karnataka remain cautious about the transition.
Several leaders are reportedly uncertain whether Siddaramaiah will accept a national role smoothly or attempt to negotiate an extension of his tenure as Chief Minister.
Sources also said that some leaders close to Siddaramaiah are unhappy with the prospect of him stepping down and have advised him to carefully consider all political options before making a final decision.
The possible leadership change marks one of the biggest political developments in Karnataka since the Congress returned to power in 2023 and could significantly reshape the party’s strategy ahead of future national and state elections.