Siddaramaiah Announces Resignation, Paves Way for Leadership Transition in Karnataka

Bengaluru, May 2026 : In a major political development in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced his decision to tender his resignation during a high-profile breakfast meeting hosted at his official residence, ‘Kaveri’, in Bengaluru, marking a significant turning point in the state’s leadership dynamics.

An official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed the scheduled sequence of events following the announcement. It stated, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will visit Lok Bhavan today at 2.30 pm. Later, at 3 pm, he will address a press conference at his other official residence, ‘Krishna’.”

Further clarity came from State Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil, who, after attending the breakfast meeting, confirmed the leadership change. “CM is going to Raj Bhavan. CM Siddaramaiah will make Shivakumar the new CM,” he said while leaving the venue.

According to sources familiar with the developments, Siddaramaiah made the announcement during breakfast with his cabinet colleagues. He reportedly informed them that he would submit his resignation by 3 p.m. the same day. Sources added that the Chief Minister appeared composed and calm while conveying his decision and stated that he would proceed to Lok Bhavan in the afternoon to formally submit his resignation.

Congress insiders further indicated that Siddaramaiah is expected to propose D.K. Shivakumar’s name as the next Chief Minister during the upcoming Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting. However, the meeting is yet to be officially scheduled by the party leadership, adding another layer of anticipation to the unfolding political scenario.

The announcement comes amid days of intense speculation over a possible leadership change within the Karnataka Congress. Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a breakfast meeting at ‘Kaveri’, which was widely seen as politically significant.

Shivakumar, considered a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s post, arrived at the residence accompanied by several cabinet ministers and senior Congress leaders aligned with Siddaramaiah’s camp. The meeting drew considerable attention as rumours of internal power transition gained momentum.

A notable moment during the gathering was Shivakumar’s gesture of respect towards Siddaramaiah, as he touched the Chief Minister’s feet and later embraced him after exchanging greetings. The interaction was captured in photographs released by both leaders’ offices and quickly gained traction across social media platforms.

Party sources suggested that the coordinated release of these images was intended to project unity and coordination within the Karnataka Congress leadership amid growing political uncertainty. Several MLAs known to be close to Siddaramaiah also attended the breakfast meeting, further strengthening its significance.

Meanwhile, political tension escalated after Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot left Bengaluru, triggering speculation about procedural delays. However, Congress sources clarified that the Governor’s absence would not impact the resignation process.

Party insiders maintained that Siddaramaiah had been instructed to proceed with submitting his resignation to the Governor’s office despite his absence from the city. They asserted that the timeline for all political developments had already been fixed and would be followed without deviation.

As Karnataka awaits the formal transition, all eyes are now on the Congress Legislature Party meeting, which is expected to determine the next Chief Minister and officially shape the future leadership structure of the state.