On a day expected to involve a meeting with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, possibly to submit his resignation, the 77-year-old leader will also host a breakfast for his cabinet colleagues, including Shivakumar.
As political tensions heighten in anticipation of a new Chief Minister, AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala stated that the Congress has not convened a meeting of its legislature party in Karnataka, and no other decisions have been finalized. He urged the media to refrain from speculation.
The Legislature Party is responsible for selecting its leader, who is the most likely candidate for CM.
Surjewala, who arrived on Wednesday, also met with Siddaramaiah and other senior party members.
Growing speculation suggests that Siddaramaiah will most likely announce his resignation from the CM position on Thursday to allow for Shivakumar’s ascension.
This development follows reports that the Congress high command has asked Siddaramaiah to facilitate a leadership shift and has offered him a significant role within the party, possibly a Rajya Sabha seat. Reports indicate he has yet to accept this central position.
Sources suggest that Siddaramaiah may have chosen to resign based on direct communication from Rahul Gandhi. The CM has emphasized his willingness to step down if requested by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to Delhi on Tuesday for consecutive meetings at Congress headquarters that included discussions with Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, and General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Surjewala.
Maintaining the suspense, the 77-year-old Siddaramaiah chose not to comment on the swirling rumors on Wednesday, stating he would address the matter the following day.
Senior Congress MLA R V Deshpande, Chairperson of the Administrative Reforms Commission, claimed that Siddaramaiah informed him of his decision to resign.
During their discussion, when some MLAs urged him to reconsider his resignation, Siddaramaiah replied that he had given his word to the party leadership and would honor it.
According to sources, various ministers and legislators met with Siddaramaiah at his residence to discuss the matter.
They urged him to remain in his position, suggesting the issue be raised with the party high command.
Reports indicate that some suggested convening a legislature party meeting, but Siddaramaiah did not show favor towards such proposals.
Home Minister G Parameshwara, whose name has occasionally surfaced regarding the CM position, remained tight-lipped about Siddaramaiah’s discussion with the Congress high command in Delhi, stating that no one knows the specifics of the discussions. He also downplayed rumors regarding his potential rise, asserting that everyone must adhere to the party’s decision.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Federation of Backward Class Communities has warned the Congress and its leadership of potential repercussions if Siddaramaiah is replaced.
Stressing that Congress gained power due to the support from backward classes and AHINDA (the Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits), federation leaders asserted there is no other leader of Siddaramaiah’s caliber within the party, and they threatened agitation if he is compelled to resign.
On the other hand, the Shivakumar faction celebrated, with supporters reveling in various parts of the state, including Bengaluru and Ramanagara, amidst reports of their leader potentially becoming the next CM. Siddaramaiah’s supporters protested outside his official residence as speculation grew regarding his departure.
Shivakumar, who initially planned to return to Bengaluru from Delhi early Thursday, arrived in the city late Wednesday to enthusiastic cheers from followers near his residence.
While the resignation discussions unfold, Siddaramaiah visited Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, paying floral tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary. Later in the evening, he received the Karnataka State BC commission’s “socio-economic and educational survey” report, commonly known as the “caste census report,” a key initiative of his government.
Sources indicate that some of his staff greeted the chief minister with emotional farewells at Vidhana Soudha, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a final day in office.
In a critique of the ruling party, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra suggested that the Congress high command’s potential decision stemmed from their conclusion that the state government had failed to deliver effective governance over the past three years.
He also forewarned of mid-term Assembly elections in the state regardless of who assumes the chief ministership.
The leadership struggle within the ruling party intensified amid speculation surrounding a potential change in chief minister as the Congress government approaches the midway point of its five-year term, set for November 20, 2025.
There remained significant rivalry between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, the current party state president, for the prestigious chief minister role following the Congress victory in the May 2023 Assembly election. At that time, the party successfully persuaded Shivakumar to accept the deputy CM position.
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Reports circulated earlier indicating a compromise reached based on a “rotational chief minister formula,” stipulating that Shivakumar would assume the CM position after a period of two-and-a-half years; however, this has yet to be officially confirmed by the party.
Also Read: Siddaramaiah likely to resign on May 28; DK Shivakumar set for top post: Report
