Published May 29, 2026 | 6:41 PM ⚊ Updated May 29, 2026 | 6:41 PM
DK Shivakumar, the favourite to succeed Siddaramaiah, met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
Synopsis: Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar held a series of meetings in Delhi on Friday with Congress top brass as the party prepares to pick a new Chief Minister for Karnataka following Siddaramaiah’s resignation on Thursday. The Congress Legislature Party is expected to meet in Bengaluru on Saturday to elect a new leader, with DK Shivakumar considered the favourite for the top job.
If camaraderie is the way to send across a message of unity and quell all discontent, Congress leadership is on-point. Social media handles of leaders and the party have been flooded with photographs of Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal hugging, holding hands and sharing meals with outgoing chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah and to-be CM DK Shivakumar.
A day after Siddaramaiah tendered his resignation as Chief Minister of Karnataka, the veteran Congressman was accompanied by senior party leaders DK Shivakumar, KJ George, among others, to Delhi on Friday, 29 May, where they held a series of meetings with the party’s top leadership.
Rahul Gandhi embraces Siddaramaiah during a meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP), led by Siddaramaiah, is set to meet in Bengaluru on Saturday to formally choose a new leader and form a new government.
Shivakumar, widely expected to be the favourite to succeed Siddaramaiah, met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Earlier in the day, Shivakumar also met AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal.
Separately, Siddaramaiah met Venugopal and Gandhi at the latter’s 10 Janpath residence and later held discussions with Shivakumar and George.
Also Read: Siddaramaiah reflects on public life after resignation, vows to continue fight for social justice
Siddaramaiah tendered his resignation at the Governor’s office on Thursday afternoon, eight days after his government completed three years in office.
The Congress Legislature Party is set to meet on Saturday to formally choose a new leader.
He is Karnataka’s longest-serving Chief Minister, having surpassed the record held by Devaraj Urs earlier this year.
The resignation was accepted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday morning, following which the Siddaramaiah Cabinet stood dissolved.
The resignation followed a meeting with the AICC leadership earlier in the week, during which Rahul Gandhi is said to have asked Siddaramaiah to step down to make way for “younger generations”.
After resigning, Siddaramaiah ruled out a move to the Rajya Sabha, saying he would remain active in Karnataka politics and fight against communal forces until “his last breath”.
He also denied that there had been any pressure from the party leadership to resign. On the choice of the next Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah said the decision would rest with the party leadership.
With the open and public display of camaraderie, Congress hopes to drive home the message that there is no animosity between AICC and Siddaramaiah or his supporters.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
