Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Resigns, D.K. Shivakumar Set to Succeed

In a significant political shift in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has resigned, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take over the role. This decision follows directives from the Congress high command and concludes months of speculation regarding the party's leadership dynamics. Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude for his time in office and confirmed that the transition aligns with an informal agreement made earlier. As Shivakumar prepares to be sworn in, the political landscape in Karnataka is set for a new chapter.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2026, 17:02 IST

Siddaramaiah Steps Down as Chief Minister

Siddaramaiah submits his resignation to the Special Secretary to state Governor, Prabhu Shankar. (Photo: PTI)

Bengaluru, May 28: On Thursday, Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officially resigned, clearing the path for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to assume the role of the next chief minister. This decision concludes months of speculation regarding the Congress party's power-sharing dynamics within the state.

The 77-year-old leader of the Congress party handed his resignation letter to Prabhu Shankar, the Special Secretary to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who is currently out of the state.

Speaking to the media alongside Shivakumar and other cabinet members, Siddaramaiah stated that he resigned following instructions from the Congress high command.

“I have submitted my resignation from the Chief Minister’s position. I trust that the Governor will accept it in accordance with constitutional guidelines,” he remarked.

He emphasized that he had always been prepared to resign whenever requested by the party leadership.

“The high command instructed me to step down two days ago, and I have acted accordingly. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka twice, and I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge,” Siddaramaiah added.

Earlier that morning, Siddaramaiah convened a breakfast meeting with cabinet ministers at his official residence, where he communicated his decision and indicated that Shivakumar would be his successor as per the party's directive.

Law Minister H.K. Patil later confirmed that the leadership transition was being executed in line with the Congress high command’s orders.

Images released by the Chief Minister’s Office depicted heartfelt moments between the two leaders, including Siddaramaiah embracing Shivakumar and the deputy chief minister seeking blessings from his senior.

This transition follows the Congress party's success in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, during which Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were in contention for the chief minister's position.

Ultimately, the party convinced Shivakumar to accept the deputy CM role, amidst discussions of an informal rotational agreement that would see him take over after two-and-a-half years, although this arrangement was never formally recognized.

That timeframe concluded in November 2025, leading to increased pressure from Shivakumar’s supporters on the party leadership to facilitate the transition.

The matter was resolved this week after both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were called to Delhi for discussions with Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal, and Randeep Surjewala.

With Siddaramaiah's resignation now in place, Shivakumar, who also holds the position of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, is poised to be sworn in as the new chief minister of Karnataka.