D.K. Shivakumar elected Leader of Congress Legislative Party in Karnataka

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar was elected as the Leader of Congress Legislative Party (CLP) on May 30, 2026. His name was proposed by outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who stepped down as the Leader of CLP after 17 years. Both decisions were seconded by senior leader G. Parameshwar during the CLP meeting that was held at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

Congress General Secretary Organisatiok K.C. Venugopal announced the selection of Mr. Shivakumar as the CLP leader, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said.

“Mr. Shivakumar will meet the Governor to stake claim as Karnataka CM. Under the guidance of the Congress high command, smooth transition of power has taken place in Karnataka,” Mr. Venugopal said.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Siddaramaiah’s decision to relinquish his position of as the Leader of CLP was conveyed to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. The former CM, along with Mr. Shivakumar, Mr. Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala had taken a break from the meeting to deliver the news to Mr. Gandhi.

Mr. Shivakumar is set to take oath as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka on June 3, 2026. However, despite heated discussions over the past few days, including with the Congress high command, there is still no clarity on the much-anticipated Cabinet recomposition,

Will D.K. Shivakumar’s Cabinet strike the right balance?

After months of speculations and uncertainty, political shadow boxing, multiple trips to Delhi and a series of breakfast and dinner diplomacy meetings, Siddaramaiah finally stepped down from the position of Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 28, 2026, passing on the mantel to his deputy and chief ministerial aspirant, D.K. Shivakumar. What does the change of guard mean for the Congress in Karnataka? What are the key challenges staring at CM to-be D.K. Shivakumar? And what next for Siddaramaiah?
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The Hindu