Though Siddaramaiah has not yet made a final decision, he has asked for time to consider the offer. He has expressed his intention to respect the high command's decision and is expected to resign within the next two or three days, possibly as soon as tomorrow. Meanwhile, some of his loyalists remain hesitant and have urged him to carefully weigh his options before stepping down.
The Congress party had a marathon meeting discussing the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections, but publicly denied any rumors about a change in the Chief Ministership until now. The leadership issue had been a source of tension for over a year, especially since Shivakumar’s supporters claimed there was a promise of a rotating Chief Ministership following the 2023 assembly elections.
Shivakumar, a prominent leader in Karnataka, accepted the Deputy Chief Minister role on the assurance that he would take over as Chief Minister after 2.5 years. However, the party was cautious about disrupting Siddaramaiah’s strong support base among minority and backward communities, which had helped the Congress navigate complex caste dynamics in the state.
With elections in neighboring Tamil Nadu now behind them and Shivakumar’s patience reportedly running thin, the central leadership has decided to move forward with the leadership change. Siddaramaiah, currently in Delhi, is expected to return to Bengaluru soon, with the state’s political future poised for a new chapter under DK Shivakumar.
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