Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will resign from his post at 3 pm today, leaders familiar with the matter told HT. The development comes after Siddaramaiah hosted a key breakfast meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his senior Cabinet colleagues at his official residence in Bengaluru on Thursday morning.
Sources said the Prime Minister also sought an appointment with Governor Thawchand Gehlot later in the day, raising speculation that he may formally tender his resignation.
Congress MLA Ashok K Pattan told reporters that “the chief minister may resign after 3 pm on Thursday” and said there was a “100 per cent possibility” of Shivakumar becoming the next chief minister. Senior Congress MLA RV Deshpande also claimed that Siddaramaiah “has decided to resign”.
However, the Congress leadership has not officially confirmed any change in Karnataka. AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala said on Wednesday that no meeting of the legislative party has been called and “no decision” has been taken yet on the leadership issue.
Speculation about the power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has continued since the Congress formed the government in Karnataka after the 2023 Assembly elections. Reports over the past few months have suggested that Siddaramaiah is expected to complete the first half of the term before handing over responsibility to Shivakumar.
The furore intensified after Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Karge and Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi earlier this week. Although the party maintained that the discussions focused on the Rajya Sabha and legislative council polls, several Congress members hinted that a decision has been taken on an effective leadership transition.
Shivakumar’s supporters gathered outside his residence in Bengaluru on Thursday morning, and there were reports of celebrations in some parts of Karnataka amid expectations that he may take over as chief minister soon.
Siddaramaiah had earlier dismissed speculations about his exit and asserted that the Congress government will complete its full five-year term in Karnataka.
