Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday hosted a breakfast meeting at his Bengaluru residence with cabinet colleagues, where he announced his decision to step down as Chief Minister, ending a prolonged leadership tussle with his deputy DK Shivakumar.
At the meeting, Shivakumar was seen hugging Siddaramaiah, while also touching his feet to seek blessings, as captured in official photos. Siddaramaiah confirmed Shivakumar would succeed him and said the Congress high command had proposed the leadership change.
He also sought an appointment with the Governor, though Raj Bhavan sources said Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was in Indore for personal reasons.
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The transition follows nearly 48 hours of consultations in Delhi involving Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal, where Siddaramaiah was reportedly offered a Rajya Sabha seat as part of a transition package.
The Congress state unit later posted a message of unity on X, while Shivakumar’s supporters celebrated with sweets after the announcement. The breakfast spread included idli, dosa, sambar, chutney and kesaribath.
The leadership change ends a long-running dispute, intensified in 2024–25, over an alleged 2.5-year power-sharing deal struck after the 2023 election.
While Shivakumar’s supporters pressed for rotation, Siddaramaiah had initially resisted amid concerns over anti-incumbency ahead of 2028. Though his future role remains unclear, he is said to prefer continuing as MLA from Varuna and possibly focusing on state politics before a national role.
The resolution is seen as a long-pending settlement, with Shivakumar widely viewed as the intended successor since the party’s electoral victory.
