Siddaramaiah tells Karnataka cabinet about decision to step down

Fresh political uncertainty gripped Karnataka on Thursday after intense discussions inside the ruling Congress camp triggered speculation over the future of Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah. Senior leaders gathered at the CM’s official residence in Bengaluru from early morning, while party workers and supporters waited outside for clarity on the fast-moving developments.

Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar arrived at the residence along with several cabinet ministers ahead of a closed-door breakfast meeting. The meeting quickly drew attention across the state because rumours around a possible leadership change had already gained momentum after back-to-back discussions between the Congress high command and Karnataka leaders earlier this week.

Visuals from the residence showed Shivakumar greeting Siddaramaiah warmly. The Congress leader also sought blessings from the veteran politician, a gesture that immediately sparked political chatter in Bengaluru. Party insiders continued discussions behind closed doors while television crews camped outside the CM’s residence for updates.

Meanwhile, several Congress legislators openly hinted that a major announcement could arrive later in the day. Senior MLA Ashok K Pattan told reporters that Siddaramaiah could step down after 3 pm. He added that the party leadership would take the final call on the next chief minister. Pattan also suggested that Shivakumar remained a strong contender for the top post.

Another senior Congress leader, RV Deshpande, added further fuel to the speculation. According to him, Siddaramaiah informed some party lawmakers that he had already decided to resign. Deshpande said many MLAs urged the chief minister to continue because they viewed his decision as unexpected. However, Siddaramaiah reportedly reminded them about his commitment to the party leadership and stressed that he intended to honour that assurance.

Despite the growing buzz, confusion continued over the resignation reports. Some political circles claimed Siddaramaiah planned to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot during the afternoon to submit his resignation. However, another report later suggested that Raj Bhavan had not received any official request for an appointment from the chief minister till midday. That development created fresh uncertainty and kept political observers guessing about the next move.

Siddaramaiah himself avoided direct answers during the day. Earlier in the morning, he attended an event to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary. When reporters questioned him about the political situation, he responded briefly and said he would speak later.

The developments came after days of internal consultations inside the Karnataka Congress unit. Sources within the party indicated that the central leadership continued efforts to maintain balance between competing power centres in the state. The Congress secured a major victory in Karnataka in 2023, but discussions around rotational leadership and power-sharing never fully disappeared after the government took office.

Now, renewed speculation has once again exposed internal tensions inside the ruling party. Supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar gathered outside political offices and government buildings throughout Bengaluru as rumours spread rapidly across social media and television channels.

At the ground level, many Congress workers appeared divided. Some backed continuity and praised Siddaramaiah’s welfare-focused governance model. Others openly supported Shivakumar and argued that the party needed a new face before the next electoral cycle. Local residents near the CM’s residence also stopped to watch the heavy political activity and media rush through the morning.

For now, Congress leaders continue to maintain public caution. Yet the silence from the top leadership has only intensified political suspense across Karnataka.