Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has resigned, clearing the way for D.K. Shivakumar to take over the top post, ending a prolonged leadership tussle within the Congress.
The Congress had swept the 2023 Assembly election by defeating the BJP. Shivakumar had insisted that he deserved the chief ministership, claiming a key role in the party’s victory. The party high command had earlier decided on a power-sharing arrangement—Siddaramaiah for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by Shivakumar for the next two-and-a-half years.
However, even after the agreed period ended, Siddaramaiah did not step down. According to the report, he resigned only reluctantly after a directive from Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Even after resigning, Siddaramaiah is said to have explored ways to retain influence in the government. He reportedly sought to head a coordination committee to manage relations between the party and the government—similar to a panel formed during 2018–19 when H.D. Kumaraswamy was Chief Minister, which Siddaramaiah had chaired.
Rahul Gandhi is said to have rejected the proposal, arguing that such a committee was unnecessary when the Congress has a majority, and also citing concerns that it could hinder the new Chief Minister’s functioning. The report further claims Siddaramaiah has now placed conditions, including a Deputy Chief Minister post for his elder son Yathindra and ministerial berths for his supporters. Yathindra had lost the 2023 Assembly election and was later made an MLC; whether the demand will be accepted is expected to become clear during cabinet formation.
