Shivakumar To Replace Siddaramaiah As Karnataka CM After Congress High Command's Nod | Top Points

Last Updated:May 26, 2026, 23:01 IST

According to sources, Siddaramaiah is likely to step down on May 28 and may subsequently be moved to the Rajya Sabha.

The Congress appears to have finally resolved its long-running leadership tussle in Karnataka, with sources indicating that DK Shivakumar has been chosen to succeed Siddaramaiah as the state’s next chief minister.

Siddaramaiah is likely to step down on May 28 and may subsequently be moved to the Rajya Sabha as part of a broader political balancing exercise within the party, sources told CNN-News18.

The decision is being seen as a major breakthrough for the Congress high command, which had for months struggled to manage competing power centres within the Karnataka unit after the party’s emphatic 2023 Assembly election victory.

Top Points On Karnataka Developments

• The Congress high command, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, met Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in New Delhi on Tuesday.
• While there was no official announcement related to a leadership change, sources said that Siddaramaiah will resign later this week to make way for Shivakumar.
• To accommodate various caste and regional equations, the Congress is also exploring the possibility of appointing multiple Deputy Chief Ministers in the new Cabinet. Sources said the proposed arrangement could include representatives from Dalit, Minority, Lingayat and OBC communities, though discussions on the formula remain at a preliminary stage.
• Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the Delhi meeting focused only on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections. “Whatever speculation you people are doing is only speculation; no reality at all," Venugopal told reporters.
• Despite the public denial, sources said Rahul Gandhi personally intervened to ensure the transition plan moved forward and stressed that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar must work together.
• Sources added that Rahul Gandhi conveyed that “his word has to be kept," while Siddaramaiah did not strongly resist the transition proposal.
• According to sources, Siddaramaiah was assured that he would continue to have a say in selecting key ministers and shaping the future political structure in Karnataka.
• The leadership change discussions are unfolding alongside preparations for the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka. Of the four Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant in the state, Congress is expected to comfortably win three, while the BJP is likely to secure one seat.
• Mallikarjun Kharge’s Rajya Sabha term is ending in June, and he is expected to be re-elected from Karnataka. The party is also considering fielding Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh for one of the Rajya Sabha seats, along with either a woman candidate or an OBC nominee.

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