Bengaluru, May 28: Speculation about a leadership change in Karnataka intensified as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hosted Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for breakfast at the official residence, ‘Kaveri’, on Thursday.
D.K. Shivakumar, who is seen as a strong contender for the Chief Minister position and currently serves as the Karnataka Congress President, arrived at Siddaramaiah’s residence with several cabinet ministers and senior Congress leaders close to the Chief Minister.
This meeting has garnered significant attention due to ongoing rumors surrounding Siddaramaiah’s potential resignation from his post. Upon arrival, Shivakumar warmly greeted Siddaramaiah, touching his feet and embracing him. Images from this meeting were released by both leaders’ offices.
The scene of Shivakumar seeking Siddaramaiah’s blessings is politically significant amid the ongoing speculation about a power shift within the state Congress. Photos displaying camaraderie between the two senior leaders quickly went viral on social media. Sources within the party indicated that these images were deliberately shared to convey a message of unity and coordination within Karnataka Congress.
The Karnataka Congress shared the images on X, stating, “That day, today, and forever… Unity is our strength. Public service is our eternal commitment.”
Several legislators close to Siddaramaiah also attended the meeting, along with cabinet ministers. Following the gathering, Siddaramaiah is expected to address the media, clarifying ongoing rumors about his potential resignation and future leadership arrangements in Karnataka.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara responded to the buzz surrounding the meeting and the released images, stating he had no information regarding the situation. Commenting on the rumors of Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Parameshwara noted that the matter rests entirely with the party leadership.
When asked if removing Siddaramaiah from the Chief Minister position would send a negative message to marginalized communities and Dalits, he replied, “Let’s see what happens.”
Notably, amid the escalating political drama surrounding Siddaramaiah’s potential resignation, Governor Thawarchand Gehlot has left Bengaluru, sparking further political speculation across the state. However, Congress sources indicated that the governor’s absence from the city would not impact the resignation process, and Siddaramaiah is expected to submit his resignation at the scheduled time of 3 PM on Thursday.
According to sources within the Congress party, Siddaramaiah has been instructed to submit his resignation to the governor’s office, even though the governor is currently out of Bengaluru. Party leaders emphasized that there would be no changes to the timeline, and all developments would proceed as planned.
AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala dismissed reports of any power-sharing arrangements within the Congress and stressed that no official decision regarding a change in Chief Minister has been made.
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