CM Siddaramaiah Decides To Quit Over His “Commitment” to High Command
Deshpande said he did not see any displeasure in Siddaramaiah while he stated his decision to quit as Chief Minister.
New Delhi/Bengaluru: The all-important breakfast meeting of Karnataka Congress leadership is scheduled for Thursday morning at the residence of chief minister Siddaramaiah. Insiders claim this is the first step towards the transition of power in the state, which will see Mr Siddaramaiah making way for a new chief minister. Besides Karnataka ministers and MLAs, deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, who is the top contender to replace Mr Siddaramaiah, will be attending the meeting. AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Randeep Surjewala is also expected to attend the meeting.
The development comes a day after the Congress high command met the Karnataka unit leadership in the national capital. The Tuesday meeting in New Delhi was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary organisation K.C. Venugopal and Mr Surjewala, among others. The Congress high command feels that it will be beneficial if the 2028 assembly elections are contested under a new leader, or so claim sources.
At the meeting, Mr Gandhi reportedly told Mr Siddaramaiah that he served as chief minister for a full term from 2013 to 2018, and the party again made him CM in May 2023. Mr Gandhi pointed out to Mr Siddaramaiah that his two-and-a-half-year term ended in November 2025, and the party gave me a grace period until now to step down. Mr Gandhi is said to have assured Mr Siddaramaiah that he will be given a larger role at the national level as well as in Karnataka politics.
Speaking on the issue on Wednesday, Mr Siddaramaiah said that he will reveal the outcomes of his lengthy Tuesday meeting with central leaders in New Delhi after the breakfast meeting with the Karnataka leadership he has scheduled for Thursday.
Amidst the hectic development, reports indicate that Mr Siddaramaiah has already taken Thursday's appointment with the Karnataka governor and may tender his resignation.
Confirming the developments, Congress MLA Ashok M. Pattan said, "We went to the CM's house. I think CM may give his resignation tomorrow after 3 PM. He has already taken an appointment with the governor. The high command will decide about the next CM. Surjewala Ji is here already. Most probably, Mr Shivakumar will be the CM. Whatever the high command orders, everybody will obey.”
“Mr Siddaramaiah stated he is committed to the high command to resign and will abide by it,” said Congress MLA R.V. Deshpande, who also met the CM on Wednesday.
Mr Surjewala said, "As Venugopal Ji said yesterday, currently no meeting of the legislature party has been called by the Congress party. No other decision has been taken yet. As things evolve, we will inform you... I want to assure every single Kannadiga that the Congress decision will be in the interest of the people of Karnataka..."
Meanwhile, Mr Shivakumar's supporters broke into celebration in many parts of Karnataka amid intense speculation over a possible change of guard in the state. Firecrackers were burst and sweets distributed outside Mr Shivakumar's residence in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru, as well as in Ramanagara, the district headquarters of Bengaluru South.
Last December as well, with Mr Shivakumar pressing hard for his case, there were hectic parleys in the national capital, but the Congress leadership did not budge. However, this time a change of leadership in the state appears imminent. The sudden spate of meetings in the last couple of days all but confirms the possibility.
