Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Resignation Speculations Intensify

Political Developments in Karnataka

Significant news is emerging from Karnataka's political landscape. Amid growing speculation about his resignation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to host a high-profile breakfast for his cabinet colleagues on Thursday morning (May 28, 2026). Official sources indicate that this meeting is considered crucial, with predictions that Siddaramaiah may announce his resignation within the next day or even today. The primary reason behind this potential resignation appears to be to pave the way for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to assume the chief ministerial position.

This development comes at a time when reports suggest that the Congress leadership has hinted at a change in leadership within the state, offering Siddaramaiah a central role in the party along with a Rajya Sabha seat. However, sources indicate that Siddaramaiah has yet to accept this central role. It is also noted that since this message came directly from Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah may be inclined to step down. The Chief Minister has previously stated that he would resign if the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha requested it.

Despite this, the Congress party dismissed the discussions about a leadership change in Karnataka as mere speculation, asserting that the meetings held throughout the day between central and state leadership were solely focused on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to Delhi on Tuesday, where they participated in continuous meetings with Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and party leaders K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah and several ministers who traveled to Delhi returned to Bengaluru late at night. Reports suggest that upon their arrival, they held closed-door meetings with other ministers. The Chief Minister is expected to attend a program at the state Congress office on Wednesday, commemorating the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, where he will pay tribute at Nehru's statue in the Vidhana Soudha.

Additionally, it has been reported that Venugopal and Surjewala are expected to arrive in Bengaluru soon. Supporters of Shivakumar have long been advocating for his elevation to the chief ministerial role, claiming that there was an agreement on power-sharing between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar during the party's victory in the 2023 assembly elections.