Congress leadership transition officially begins as Siddaramaiah submits resignation following directions from the party high command
Bengaluru: Veteran Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday officially resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, ending months of intense political speculation and internal discussions over leadership change and power-sharing within the ruling Congress government.
The resignation marks a major political turning point in Karnataka and clears the path for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over the top post in the state. Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation letter to the Governor’s Principal Secretary in the absence of Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who is currently away from Bengaluru.
The dramatic political development came after prolonged uncertainty within Congress circles regarding the implementation of an alleged power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar following the party’s landslide victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
Siddaramaiah Confirms Resignation Following High Command Instructions
Addressing the media shortly after stepping down from office, Siddaramaiah stated that he resigned in accordance with the directions issued by the Congress high command.
“I had said from the beginning that I would resign whenever the high command instructed me to do so. Accordingly, I resigned after receiving those instructions,” Siddaramaiah said during a press conference held at his residence, Krishna.
The outgoing Chief Minister also confirmed that he personally submitted his resignation letter to the Governor’s office through the Principal Secretary because the Governor was not present in Bengaluru at the time.
“The Governor is not in town. I submitted my resignation letter to the Secretary at Raj Bhavan after being informed that the Governor would return later,” he said.
The resignation was formally submitted around 3:00 PM on Thursday, bringing an official end to Siddaramaiah’s second tenure as Karnataka Chief Minister.
Karnataka Leadership Change Ends Months of Political Speculation
The Congress government in Karnataka has witnessed persistent political speculation over leadership transition for more than a year, with supporters of both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar publicly expressing competing claims over the Chief Minister’s post.
The issue gained momentum after Congress returned to power with a decisive victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. Following the victory, Siddaramaiah was elected as the Congress Legislature Party leader despite stiff competition from DK Shivakumar.
Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time on May 20, 2023, while DK Shivakumar, who was also a strong contender for the post, was appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
Over the past year, repeated statements from leaders aligned with both camps fueled speculation regarding a possible leadership-sharing agreement within the party.
According to political sources, the Congress high command recently summoned both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar to New Delhi amid the political atmosphere surrounding the upcoming five-state elections. After a series of discussions and consultations, senior party leaders reportedly decided to proceed with the leadership transition.
Emotional Moment as Siddaramaiah Addresses Ministers
Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah reportedly informed ministers about his decision to step down during a breakfast meeting organized before the formal resignation process.
Sources present at the meeting described an emotional atmosphere as the veteran leader addressed his cabinet colleagues and reflected on his tenure in office.
“I am satisfied with the work we have done. We implemented all the projects promised to the people. Continue doing good work and deliver strong welfare schemes,” Siddaramaiah reportedly told ministers.
During the interaction, Siddaramaiah was seen becoming emotional, with reports suggesting that he briefly broke down while speaking about his government’s achievements and future responsibilities of the party leadership.
The emotional visuals and statements have since generated widespread political reactions across Karnataka.
DK Shivakumar Likely to Take Oath as Karnataka Chief Minister
With Siddaramaiah’s resignation now officially submitted, all attention has shifted to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is widely expected to be named the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Congress leaders are likely to begin formal consultations regarding the oath-taking ceremony and cabinet restructuring in the coming days.
The transition is expected to significantly reshape the political dynamics within the Karnataka Congress as the party prepares for future electoral battles and governance challenges.
Political observers believe the leadership change could strengthen internal balance within the Congress while also consolidating the party’s organizational structure ahead of upcoming national and regional political contests.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have intensified criticism of the Congress over the prolonged leadership uncertainty, describing the transition as evidence of internal power struggles within the ruling party.
Despite the criticism, Congress leaders maintain that the transition is being carried out in an organized and democratic manner under the guidance of the party high command.
