DK Shivakumar set to replace Siddaramaiah as Karnataka CM, say Congress sources

The political deadlock over Karnataka’s leadership appears to have reached a conclusion, with senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar reportedly receiving the backing of the party’s top brass for the Chief Minister’s post, according to sources cited by NDTV. Sources also indicated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been offered a Rajya Sabha berth along with a broader organisational role at the national level in Delhi. While Siddaramaiah is said to have sought some time before taking a final call, his resignation is expected within the next few days.

According to sources, the Congress high command was largely in favour of handing over the reins to Shivakumar.

Earlier in the day, the Congress leadership held an extended six-hour meeting but officially maintained that discussions revolved around the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. Party General Secretary KC Venugopal dismissed speculation over any leadership change, stating briefly that the meeting focused solely on electoral matters.

However, the question of succession in Karnataka has been simmering within the party for more than a year. Shivakumar’s camp has consistently maintained that the Congress leadership had informally assured a rotational Chief Ministership arrangement after the party’s victory in the 2023 Assembly elections.

Shivakumar, widely regarded as one of the Congress’s most influential leaders in Karnataka, had initially been among the frontrunners for the Chief Minister’s post. Sources claim he eventually agreed to serve as Siddaramaiah’s deputy after being assured that he would get an opportunity to assume the top office midway through the government’s term.