The picture taken just after the meeting reveals the details, the body language suggest that DK has clinched the deal. In fact he had waited patiently for o long. His efforts to get congress back in power can not be ignored by the high command. When camera crew chased DK towards the lift – he simply waved and said no comments. Amid strong buzz of a leadership change in Karnataka, chief minister Siddaramaiah is set to meet his deputy DK Shivakumar for breakfast on Thursday morning. The two leaders met top Congress leadership on Tuesday in Delhi, following which Shivakumar was invited for breakfast by the chief minister at his residence in Kaveri. Similar developments took place in 2025 too, when Siddaramaiah completed 2.5 years as CM, triggering buzz of leadership change. Back then, sources had told HT that the chief minister urged Shivakumar to take over the top post after the next Assembly elections in the state in 2028.
The Tuesday meeting in New Delhi was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal and AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala, among others. The party said discussions were on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and polls in the Karnataka legislative council. Siddaramaiah, too, denied reports that discussions had taken place on changing the CM, people aware of the matter said.
The party top brass including Gandhi and Kharge held several hours of discussions with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, apart from meeting them separately, and is likely to take a call on a possible change of guard in the state after the Rajya Sabha polls, which are due next month, PTI reported citing sources.
People cited above said Kharge told Siddaramaiah that the latter needed to step down and make way for a new leadership. However, the 77- year-old leader refused to acquiesce immediately and instead asked for two days to decide. The people cited above also said that Siddaramaiah was reluctant to hand over duties to Shivakumar but was told by Kharge that the choice of successor was not his.
Siddaramaiah might also be presented with a formula where he steps aside in return for a Rajya Sabha seat and a possible cabinet position for his son Yathindra — a member of the state legislative council — in return.
After the Congress won its biggest victory in a generation in Karnataka in 2023, the government has been mired in tensions over the top post. Siddaramaiah, a two-time chief minister who built a grassroots coalition of backwards, Dalits and Muslims that propelled the Congress a rare victory against the Bhartiya Janata Party, had agreed to a power swap halfway through the five-year tenure but has till now blocked Shivakumar, the party’s main trouble-shooter and poll financier. People familiar with the matter feels that even if Congress manages to convince Siddaramaiah to take the Rajya Sabha route, he may not be willing to see Shivakumar succeed him.
In that case, Congress might offer Mallikarjun Kharge as a compromise candidate as CM, also clearing the way for Rahul Gandhi to push KC Venugopal as the next party chief and open up the central party organisation to a much-needed over
After his arrival in Delhi, Shivakumar was asked by the media if he would assume the post of chief minister. The Congress leader refused to issue any response, but smiled at the reporters as he left in his car. However, people aware of the developments have also said that Siddaramaiah supporters are hoping for Shivakumar to take over the role now, lose the 2028 elections to the massive anti-incumbency wave in Karnataka, and with it his leadership claims.
In that case, Congress might offer Mallikarjun Kharge as a compromise candidate as CM, also clearing the way for Rahul Gandhi to push KC Venugopal as the next party chief and open up the central party organisation to a much-needed overhaul in Karnataka power tussle Fresh buzz suggests that Siddaramaiah may finally be stepping aside, with a Bihar-like strategy in the works. Here’s what the chief minister may be offered by the Congress leadership for leaving the key role, according to people aware of the matter:
The party top brass including Gandhi and Kharge held several hours of discussions with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, apart from meeting them separately, and is likely to take a call on a possible change of guard in the state after the Rajya Sabha polls, which are due next month.
One thing is certain DK Shivakumar will race through development of Bengalu ru and Karnataka simultaneously. If he asks for funds for his state from PM Modi – I am sure he won’t say no!