Karnataka CM News Highlights: Rahul Gandhi praises Siddaramaiah's sacrifice, he pushes for social balance in Cabinet

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday praised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for “sacrificing” the top post as part of the party’s leadership transition plan. The outgoing CM pushed for broader social representation in the new government being formed under DK Shivakumar.

Sources said Rahul Gandhi met Siddaramaiah amid ongoing discussions over the Cabinet composition and leadership restructuring in Karnataka. During the meeting, Rahul is learnt to have told the veteran leader: “You have become an example to other Congress leaders by sacrificing the chair for the promise. I’m extremely happy looking at the commitment you’ve shown for the party and ideology.”

Sources said Siddaramaiah has strongly argued against appointing Deputy Chief Ministers unless all major social groups receive representation in the power structure. He reportedly told the party leadership that if Deputy CM posts are to be created, there must be representation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and the Lingayat community.

“There is a need for representation from all communities. If that is not possible, then there is no need for any Deputy CM in the government,” Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told the high command.

Sources also said the Congress high command has assured Siddaramaiah that his son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, would be accommodated in the government with a portfolio of their choice.

However, Siddaramaiah is yet to finalise and submit the list of his loyalists for inclusion in the Cabinet. According to sources, he is expected to write down the names and hand them over to Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala during the Congress Legislature Party meeting scheduled for Saturday.

Input by Sagay Raj

BJP MLA Bharath Shetty slammed the Congress amid the power shift, saying, "Though the leadership may change, their ideologies are not going to change, Karnataka is running on deficit, Congress has no financial plans, they only do timepass".

Chief Whip of Karnataka Legislative Council, Saleem Ahmed, said half of the new cabinet under DK Shivakumar will be new faces.

"Absolutely, new faces will be introduced. As we have stated previously, we believe that 50% of the cabinet positions should be allocated to new faces," he said.

"Regarding the ministers who are to be replaced, those who are experienced and have served as ministers for three years, they should be assigned to party organisational work," he added.

A picture of the possible new Cabinet in Karnataka has emerged, though discussions are still underway.

The likely ministers are Yathindra Siddaramaiah, AS Ponnanna, Byrathi Suresh, HC Mahadevappa, Priyank Kharge, MB Patil, G Parameshwara, Krishna Byregowda, Santosh Lad, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Ramalinga Reddy, Rizwan Arshad, UT Khader and Sharath Bachegowda.

On Siddaramaiah’s resignation, former Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the manner in which Siddaramaiah stepped down to pave the way for DK Shivakumar was an example for the country.

"I think the way he (Siddaramaiah) has behaved is an example to the entire country. The love and respect that people have for Siddaramaiah is immense. But I think yesterday, and the day before, and how he has conducted himself, it is amazing. The respect has gone tenfold now... He has never been after power, or there's no lust for power," he said.

Karnataka caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arriveed at his Bengaluru residence after holding multiple meetings with the Congress leadership in Delhi.

Siddaramaiah has proposed a coordination committee to link the Congress and the Karnataka government after stepping down as Chief Minister.

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DK Shivakumar, who is likely to become the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.

Posters projecting Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar as the next Deputy Chief Minister have surfaced on social media amid intense political speculation over the state leadership. The viral posters urge the Congress high command to appoint Hebbalkar as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The posters, which are being widely circulated online, hail her as a strong grassroots leader and call for greater representation for women in the state’s top leadership.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said there was no update yet on the Rajya Sabha nominations and that the Congress high command would take a final call after consultations.

Speaking in Delhi, Shivakumar said the central leadership would announce the list along with nominees from other states and added that discussions were still underway.

“There is no update at the moment. As discussed earlier, the central leadership will announce the list along with those of the other states. This is not my domain... I do not know. There are some discussions and consultations going on. The party's High Command will take the decision,” he said.

On the formal announcement of the next Karnataka Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar said, "A CLP meeting will be held in Bengaluru tomorrow at 4 PM. Our two observers will arrive. We will conduct the CLP meeting in their presence, and subsequently, they will take a call after consulting with the High Command."

DK Shivakumar was reportedly seen sorting out the list of his loyalists for Cabinet berths during a flight to Delhi.

DK Shivakumar, who is likely to be sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister, met Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal in Delhi.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Friday thanked outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his service to the state, while expressing hope that the new CM would focus on the development of the state.

Noting that there is a change of guard in the state, he said, "On my personal behalf, I thank the outgoing Chief Minister for the great service he has rendered to the state, and we all wish that the incoming Chief Minister concentrates on the development of the state and on fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Karnataka, so that they are better served."

Congress chief Mallikarjun praised outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after their meeting in Delhi, highlighting his contribution to public life, describing him as a leader committed to social justice, equality and the welfare of marginalised communities.

"Siddaramaiah's public life has consistently reflected dignity, compassion, and a deep commitment to social justice. From humble beginnings to serving Karnataka twice as Chief Minister, he remained steadfast in his commitment to equality, harmony, and the welfare of the marginalised. Karnataka and the Congress party remain grateful for his contribution to public life. Wishing him good health and the very best in his continued service to the people," Kharge said.

Senior Congress leaders, including outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and veteran leader KJ George, held a key meeting in New Delhi on Friday amid ongoing discussions over the formation of the next government in Karnataka.

Before the broader meeting, Siddaramaiah separately met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal to deliberate on cabinet restructuring in Karnataka, Rajya Sabha nominations and other organisational issues within the party.

Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily on Thursday described Siddaramaiah's resignation as part of a planned political transition and said the change in leadership would ensure stability for the Congress government in the state.

"It is a transition. Siddaramaiah served well as a Chief Minister and for 8 years, he served as our official leader... The change of guard after 2.5 years, was decided when he took over as a CM for the second time, but he was allowed to continue for a couple of months more. He knew that change was coming. He served well in the party and the state government... The transition in government is smooth, which means it will be a strong government for the next 2 years and Congress's legacy will continue," Moily said while speaking to news agency ANI.

Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav has written to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking either a berth in the new Karnataka cabinet or a Rajya Sabha nomination. In his letter, Yadav reportedly urged the party leadership to consider his name as the Congress finalises appointments and political accommodations amid the ongoing government transition in the state.

(With inputs from Sagay Raj.)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said he held discussions with senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge during his visit to New Delhi. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said MLAs KJ George, Priyanka Kharge and Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah accompanied him during the meetings.