Published May 27, 2026 | 10:50 AM ⚊ Updated May 27, 2026 | 11:07 AM
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. (X)
Synopsis: Siddaramaiah’s office confirmed that he will abide by Rahul Gandhi’s request and resign as the chief minister of Karnataka to make way for younger leaders. Congress sources said that a legislative party meeting will be called, and proceedings will begin to choose the next chief minister. The CLP meet is expected to welcome DK Shivakumar as the next chief minister.
In a development that marks a generational shift in the Congress state unit, Siddaramaiah is all set to resign as chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday, 28 May.
Siddaramaiah’s office confirmed to South First that the tallest leader of Congress in Karnataka will abide by Rahul Gandhi’s request and resign from the top post to make way for younger leaders. This marks the end of the Kuruba OBC leader’s second tenure as chief minister, who holds the distinction of beating Devraj Urs to become the longest-serving chief minister of the state.
Siddaramaiah has invited his Cabinet for a breakfast meeting on Thursday, where he is expected to bid adieu to his council of ministers and bureaucrats of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Proceedings in Congress will begin post the breakfast meeting.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi asks Siddaramaiah to step down as Karnataka CM, make way for ‘future’
Congress sources said that a legislative party meeting will be called on either Thursday evening or Friday, and proceedings will begin to choose the next chief minister. Under the supervision of All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of Karnataka, and AICC General Secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, the CLP meet is set to elect DK Shivakumar as the next chief minister of Karnataka.
The CLP meet is also expected to express gratitude to Siddaramaiah, celebrate his tenure as chief minister and welcome DK Shivakumar to replace him as Congress looks to reorganise its plans with an eye on the future.
While media plays guessing games over who will succeed Siddaramaiah as chief minister, there is no doubt within Congress circles. DK Shivakumar is the obvious choice. Several reports have been throwing up names of Mallikarjun Kharge and G Parameshwar – both Dalit leaders.
However, within the Congress there is clarity. “Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are the only two options. Think of them like our own ‘Strait of Hormuz’. It them or nothing. Anything else is a mess,” quipped a senior minister in Karnataka cabinet while acknowledging that an idea of a ‘third option’ was considered briefly by the AICC.
While speculations are rife over his terms of exit, those close to Siddaramaiah told South First that he has not placed any conditions or sought anything in exchange for exiting the chief minister’s post.
“Siddaramaiah is the only senior leader in the Karnataka Congress who does not have any business interests. He neither owns educational institutions nor has real estate firms, unlike others. He has no business empire to save. He also doesn’t have unrealistic expectations for his son Yathindra and won’t lobby for anything,” a close aide of Siddaramaiah told South First even as discussions with AICC began on Tuesday.
Also Read: Congress’ risky but necessary radical shift in approach
Meanwhile, a section of Congress is worried about how replacing Siddaramaiah might impact the support of AHINDA (Kannada acronym for Minorities, Backward Classes, Dalits), whose votes the OBC leader commands. However, several leaders in the party believe a shake-up was necessary, although it is risky.
“If there is no sliver of Janata Party left in Siddaramaiah, he will not cause any harm to the party’s prospects. Ten years ago, he may have had a larger sway. Things have now changed,” said a senior minister of Karnataka. The reference was to Siddaramaiah’s roots in the Janata Party under HD Deve Gowda.
Siddaramaiah quit the Janata Party when he was denied the chief minister’s chair, despite being the most popular choice of MLAs. Then, Sonia Gandhi invited him to join Congress, much to the chagrin of “original Congressmen”. Since his entry into Congress, Siddaramaiah — often taunted as the “outsider” — has beaten every odd to land on top.
With Congress focusing on the 2028 Assembly elections in Karnataka, a change of guard has been initiated to allow the next generation of leaders to take the party forward.
The new face of the Congress government in Karnataka, with Shivakumar at the helm of affairs, is expected to prepare for the 2028 Assembly battle with no excuses.
Come the election, Congress needs Siddaramaiah to endorse and transfer his goodwill to the party. For now, it is the end of Siddaramaiah’s tenure as the chief minister.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
