DK Shivakumar was unanimously elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Karnataka on Saturday, paving the way for him to take over as chief minister while capping a leadership transition in the southern state that took place after his predecessor Siddaramaiah stepped down at the behest of the Congress central leadership.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, who moderated the meeting, said Siddaramaiah suggested Shivakumar’s name at a legislative party meeting in Vidhan Soudha.
“The Congress high command suggested DK Shivakumar’s name as CLP leader. Siddaramaiah ji suggested his name in the meeting and [state home minister] Upheld by G Parameshwara. “I am proud to announce that the Karnataka CLP has unanimously elected DK Shivakumar as its leader,” Venugopal said.
After his election, Shivakumar, accompanied by Siddaramaiah and other party leaders, called Governor Thawarchand Gehlot to Lok Bhavan and demanded formation of a new government. According to an official statement, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 4:05 pm on June 3 at the Lok Bhavan premises.
“I am humbled to have been unanimously elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party… We remain committed to serving the people of the state with dedication, integrity and purpose,” Shivakumar posted on X.
With the leadership issue settled, attention has now turned to forming the next government. Two deputy chief ministers are likely to be appointed – state public works minister Satish Jarkiholi, a Dalit leader, and MB Patel, a Lingayat leader, leaders familiar with the matter said.
Siddaramaiah’s son Yatindra is also expected to enter the government. “Rahul Gandhi and other leaders said that I should get a ministerial position and I should be allowed to develop… I am definitely aspiring for a ministerial position,” Yatendra said on Saturday.
The election of Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga leader who served as deputy chief minister in Siddaramaiah’s government, as CLP leader came two days after Siddaramaiah resigned as Karnataka chief minister, ending months of uncertainty over the Congress leadership transition in the state.
“Many people thought that this shift would be difficult for the Congress party and that it could create big problems within the party. But our family is a family. Everyone stood behind Siddaramaiah, and he made it clear that only the Congress is in his heart,” Venugopal said.
Venugopal also pointed out Siddaramaiah’s continuing role within the party. “We will not let you rest. Your service is needed for Congress in Karnataka and at the national level as well,” he said.
After his resignation on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said he had rejected an offer to move to the Rajya Sabha and would continue as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
After the meeting, Venugopal lauded Shivakumar’s rise in the party ranks, recalling his journey from the Congress student wing to the party’s state unit.
“His love and loyalty for Congress is unparalleled. His 24/7 hard work finally made him the Chief Minister…Under Shivakumar’s leadership, Congress will come back to power again with Siddaramaiah’s support in the 2028 Assembly elections in Karnataka,” he said.
When Shivakumar walked out of the meeting, a large number of supporters gathered outside and chanted “DK, DK” and hailed his promotion.
The transition is setting in motion close maneuvers and talks within the Congress state unit and the top leadership over the prime minister’s post, which began soon after the party won its biggest victory in a generation in Karnataka in 2023. Siddaramaiah, who built a popular alliance of backward castes, Dalits and Muslims, and who propelled the Congress to a rare victory over the BJP, became prime minister – in his second term – after a power-sharing arrangement. That would have made way for Shivakumar, the party’s chief troubleshooter and fundraiser, midway through his five-year term. But that was not achieved until Thursday when the state’s longest-serving chief minister stepped down. This came two days after the party leadership summoned both the leaders to Delhi and held marathon meetings during which the top leadership pushed Siddaramaiah to make way for the transition process.
Dinesh Gundu Rao, who served as Health Minister in Siddaramaiah’s government, said, “Oftentimes, egos and personal issues become very important in politics, but the way Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Venugopal and Surjewala dealt with it was truly remarkable. It was emotional, and it is something we will never forget in our lives.”
The legislative party also adopted a resolution moved by Shivakumar thanking Siddaramaiah for his tenure as Chief Minister.
“The Congress Legislature Party expresses its profound gratitude to Siddaramaiah for his invaluable service to the people of Karnataka and the Congress Party,” the resolution said.
She said party workers and the public would remember Siddaramaiah’s terms as chief minister from 2013 to 2018 and from 2023 to 2026, in addition to his two terms as leader of the opposition.
The resolution also praised his commitment to social justice, administrative capabilities, adherence to party ideology and faith in party leadership as qualities that would set an example for Congress workers. She also expressed her hope that he would continue to lead the party and support its development agenda.
