Siddaramaiah asked to step down as Karnataka CM, say sources as Congress downplays buzz
Fresh political speculation has erupted in Karnataka after sources claimed the Congress leadership discussed a Delhi role for Siddaramaiah, even as the party publicly denied talks of any leadership transition in the state.
In a dramatic twist to the leadership buzz in Karnataka, Congress sources said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been asked by the party high command to step down and move to Delhi through the Rajya Sabha, where he could be given a larger role at the national level.
The development came shortly after senior Congress leaders publicly dismissed speculation over a leadership change in Karnataka following a high-level meeting in Delhi, and even maintained that the discussions were limited to Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.
According to sources, the Congress leadership conveyed to Siddaramaiah that he could transition to national politics through the Rajya Sabha and take up a bigger organisational or governance role in Delhi. Sources also said that the high command assured him that “all other things and his issues will be taken care of”.
The meeting took place at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. It was attended by Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala.
CONGRESS PUBLICLY DENIES LEADERSHIP TALKS
Even as sources spoke of a possible leadership transition, the Congress officially denied that any discussion had taken place on replacing Siddaramaiah.
Speaking after the nearly two-hour meeting, KC Venugopal said the talks were confined to Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections.
“Today’s discussion was only around Rajya Sabha polls and MLC elections. Whatever you speculated is not true,” Venugopal told reporters.
“We had a meeting. CM, DCM and Randeep were present. The entire discussion concentrated on Rajya Sabha and MLC seats today. Stop speculation,” he added.
POWER-SHARING BUZZ RETURNS
The meeting revived speculation over the Congress’s internal power-sharing arrangement in Karnataka, particularly amid repeated claims by supporters of DK Shivakumar that he had been promised the chief minister’s post after the 2023 Assembly elections.
Neither Siddaramaiah nor Shivakumar commented on the leadership issue while leaving the venue.
The Congress leadership has so far avoided making any public announcement on a possible change in Karnataka, but the latest claims from party sources are likely to intensify political debate within the state unit.
RAJYA SABHA CALCULATIONS
Sources said the formal agenda of the meeting included discussions on Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council polls.
Of the four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka falling vacant, the Congress is expected to win three, while the BJP is likely to secure one seat.
Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to be renominated to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, while the party is also considering the candidature of DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh, along with a possible woman or OBC nominee.