Siddaramaiah steps down as Karnataka CM; Shivakumar set to take reins
The leadership transition ends months of speculation surrounding Karnataka Congress’s unresolved power-sharing understanding forged after the 2023 election
Siddaramaiah submits his resignation to the Special Secretary to state Governor, Prabhu Shankar. (Photo: PTI)
Bengaluru, May 28: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned from office, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take over as the next chief minister and ending months of speculation over the Congress party’s power-sharing arrangement in the state.
The 77-year-old Congress leader submitted his resignation letter to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s Special Secretary Prabhu Shankar at Lok Bhavan, as the Governor is currently out of state.
Addressing reporters later alongside Shivakumar and cabinet colleagues, Siddaramaiah said he stepped down following directions from the Congress high command.
“I have tendered my resignation from the Chief Minister’s post. I am confident the Governor will accept it as per constitutional provisions,” he said.
He added that he had always maintained he would resign whenever asked to do so by the party leadership.
“The high command directed me two days ago to step down, and accordingly I have submitted my resignation today. I got the opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka twice, for which I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge,” Siddaramaiah said.
Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah held a breakfast meeting with cabinet ministers at his official residence, where he informed them of his decision and indicated that Shivakumar would succeed him in line with the party leadership’s decision.
Law Minister H.K. Patil later confirmed that the leadership change was being carried out as per the Congress high command’s directions.
Photographs released by the Chief Minister’s Office captured emotional moments between the two leaders, including Siddaramaiah embracing Shivakumar and the deputy chief minister seeking his senior’s blessings.
The transition stems from the Congress’s victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, after which Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were locked in a contest for the chief minister’s post.
The party eventually persuaded Shivakumar to accept the deputy CM role, amid reports of an informal rotational arrangement under which he would take over after two-and-a-half years, though the understanding was never officially acknowledged.
That period ended in November 2025, following which Shivakumar’s supporters intensified pressure on the party leadership to implement the transition.
The issue was finally resolved this week after Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to Delhi for meetings with Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala.
With Siddaramaiah’s resignation now submitted, Shivakumar, who also serves as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, is set to be sworn in as Karnataka’s next chief minister.
PTI