Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah likely to submit resignation on Thursday

Karnataka appeared headed for a major political transition with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah likely to tender his resignation on Thursday and expected to address a press conference in Bengaluru tomorrow amid mounting speculation over a leadership change in the Congress-ruled state, sources told India Today.

In another significant development, Siddaramaiah is also expected to host a breakfast meeting for the full Karnataka cabinet at his residence on Thursday morning, a move that has further intensified political buzz around an imminent change of guard in the state.

Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala is also set to arrive in Bengaluru on Thursday amid the fast-moving political developments. Sources said Surjewala is likely to hold meetings with key Congress leaders in the state as the party leadership works to manage the transition and contain factional tensions.

Sources also said the tussle within the Karnataka Congress legislature party is likely to continue even if the leadership transition is formalised, with rival camps expected to push aggressively for control over the next phase of the government.

The anticipated announcement comes after days of intense backchannel negotiations between the Karnataka leadership and the Congress high command in Delhi, where Siddaramaiah was reportedly urged to move to national politics through the Rajya Sabha and take up a larger organisational role ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said the Congress leadership wants Siddaramaiah to emerge as one of the party’s principal OBC faces nationally as Rahul Gandhi sharpens the Congress’s social justice and caste outreach strategy in the run-up to the next general election.

The veteran leader was reportedly told during closed-door meetings that the party needed him in Delhi to strengthen its OBC mobilisation efforts nationally and that his political stature would play a key role in the Congress’s long-term electoral strategy.

Sources also said the leadership assured Siddaramaiah that “all other things and his issues will be taken care of” if he agreed to the transition plan.

The developments follow marathon meetings in Delhi involving Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala.

While the Congress publicly maintained that discussions were confined to Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections, sources indicated that a Karnataka leadership transition formed the central focus of the talks.

The possible resignation has once again brought the Congress’s unresolved power-sharing tensions in Karnataka into sharp focus.

Since the Congress returned to power in 2023, supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have repeatedly claimed that a rotational chief ministership understanding had been reached when the government was formed.

Though the Congress leadership never publicly acknowledged such an arrangement, speculation around a leadership handover has persisted within the Karnataka unit for nearly two years.

With Siddaramaiah now likely to step down, DK Shivakumar is widely seen as the frontrunner to replace him if the transition is formalised.

Sources, however, said the Congress leadership has been careful to avoid any impression that Siddaramaiah is being pushed out, instead framing the move as a political elevation to the national stage.

The timing is crucial as nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections are to be filed by June 8, leaving the party with little room for delay.

Siddaramaiah had earlier sought more time before taking a final decision and has remained in consultation with close ministers and trusted aides since returning from Delhi.

His expected press conference in Bengaluru on Thursday is now being closely watched for indications on whether Karnataka is indeed set for a change of guard.

Neither Siddaramaiah nor DK Shivakumar has publicly commented on the leadership issue so far, while the Congress continues to officially deny that any talks on replacing the Karnataka Chief Minister have taken place.