Siddaramaiah may step down as Congress leadership backs DK Shivakumar: Sources

Karnataka politics appears headed toward a major turning point, with growing indications.

That Chief Minister Siddaramaiah could step down soon following extensive discussions with the Congress high command in Delhi. Sources said the veteran Congress leader is likely to make an important announcement in Bengaluru on Thursday, fuelling speculation that the party may be preparing for a leadership transition in the state government.

Ahead of the expected announcement, Siddaramaiah is also scheduled to host a breakfast meeting for the entire Karnataka cabinet at his official residence, a gathering being viewed as politically significant amid intense internal discussions within the ruling Congress.

The latest developments come after a marathon round of meetings in Delhi involving senior Congress leaders. Publicly, the party maintained that the discussions focused only on Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections. However, sources indicated that the leadership also held detailed conversations regarding Karnataka’s future political roadmap.

According to sources, the Congress leadership has been trying to persuade Siddaramaiah to take up a larger national role in the party ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The veteran leader is being projected internally as one of the Congress’s strongest OBC faces, especially as Rahul Gandhi continues to sharpen the party’s social justice and caste-based political narrative.

Sources claimed the leadership suggested that Siddaramaiah could move to national politics through the Rajya Sabha route, allowing him to retain political prominence while contributing to the Congress’s broader national strategy.

The meetings reportedly included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala.

Despite the intense speculation, the Congress publicly denied any discussion about a leadership change. Speaking after the meetings, KC Venugopal insisted that talks were limited to Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections and urged the media to avoid “unnecessary speculation.”

Still, political attention has once again shifted toward DK Shivakumar, who has long been seen as a key contender for the Chief Minister’s post. Ever since the Congress returned to power in Karnataka in 2023, speculation has persisted about an informal power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, though the party has never officially acknowledged such an understanding.

With resignation rumours intensifying, Shivakumar’s supporters believe the long-discussed transition may finally be approaching. However, party leaders are reportedly cautious about ensuring that any leadership shift does not appear as a political defeat for Siddaramaiah, fearing it could deepen factional tensions within the Karnataka Congress.

The Congress’s outreach to Siddaramaiah is also tied closely to its larger national political calculations. The party believes his OBC appeal and administrative experience could play an important role in strengthening its social coalition ahead of the 2029 general elections.

For now, attention remains fixed on Thursday’s developments in Bengaluru, where Siddaramaiah’s expected address could determine the next chapter of Karnataka politics and potentially pave the way for a major leadership reset within the Congress government.