Amid fast-paced developments in Karnataka politics, all eyes are now on the move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has invited his Cabinet colleagues for a breakfast meeting on Thursday. A day after being asked by the Congress high command to move to the Rajya Sabha, thus paving the way for a leadership change, speculation over his next move is likely to come to rest as he is expected to spell out during the breakfast meeting.
On Wednesday, some Congress legislators spoke publicly that he would resign on Thursday.
In his first interaction with the media after his New Delhi visit, Mr. Siddaramaiah refused to entertain pointed questions on leadership change in the State. In a one-liner, he said, “I will speak tomorrow.” He was speaking after offering floral tributes to first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary here.
While it is learnt that he is under pressure from some of his followers to continue in the post, the Chief Minister’s move is likely to be known during the breakfast meeting, and later he is likely to address a media conference. The All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala arrived in the city on Wednesday apparently to smoothen the transition process. Mr. Surjewala also held deliberations with the Chief Minister later in the evening.
On the list of invitees for breakfast are his Cabinet colleagues, including his deputy D.K. Shivakumar, who arrived from New Delhi to Bengaluru on Wednesday evening. Mr. Shivakumar has been a contender for the top post ever since the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year tenure in November 2025. The breakfast meeting is at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Bengaluru at 9 a.m. There is an indication that he might meet the Governor later in the day.
Given the stature of Mr. Siddaramaiah as a senior leader and a key OBC face of the party, the Congress high command cannot push through a leadership change if Mr. Siddaramaiah does not show readiness for a transition. Mr. Siddaramaiah is currently the only OBC Chief Minister among the four Congress-ruled States. This is why the Congress high command is keen to ensure that the transition is smooth, and have him on board.
Though multiple sources in Karnataka Congress indicated that the Congress Legislative Party meeting is being convened on Friday if the process on Thursday is completed smoothly, Mr. Surjewala told presspersons that the CLP has not been called yet. While party’s general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal had said, post the day-long deliberations on Tuesday, that they were only focused on selecting candidates for the Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections (scheduled on July 18), it was clear that leadership change was the key issue under discussion.
Multiple Deputy CMs, new KPCC president?
Sources indicate that the new Ministry might have multiple Deputy Chief Ministers, with a carefully calculated caste combination comprising OBC, Lingayat, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Muslim faces to accommodate the interests of the party’s traditional vote base. It is also being speculated that some of the Ministers in the current Cabinet could pave the way for new faces.
Along with the transition of power in the government, it is also likely that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee will get a new president shortly.
The post is currently held by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi, one of the aspirants for the post, said that he was ready to take up the responsibility and that he had communicated his desire to the high command.
Emotional scenes at Vidhana Soudha
Emotional scenes were witnessed in Vidhana Soudha when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was leaving his office after receiving the caste survey report from the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes on Wednesday.
Many employees who had gathered to bid farewell to him had tears, and some even requested him to stay in the post. They gathered at Vidhana Soudha’s entrance and raised slogans in his favour as he boarded his vehicle.
Celebrations and protests across Karnataka
Mixed scenes were reported in many places across the State on Wednesday over the speculated transition of power. While in several places, including Hubballi and Bengaluru, members of the Kuruba community staged protests, crackers were burst near the residence of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru.
Sweets were also distributed in Ramanagara. Supporters of the Chief Minister who were protesting in front of his residence were dispersed by the police.
A protest on Thursday has been announced by a Hubballi-based Kuruba association.
‘I will speak tomorrow’: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says, amid talk of power transition
Karnataka to get new CM? Siddaramaiah to meet cabinet colleagues on May 28
Karnataka to get new CM? Siddaramaiah to meet cabinet colleagues on May 28
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
Published – May 27, 2026 12:43 pm IST
