Siddaramaiah to resign as Karnataka CM tomorrow: Says Congress MLA; DK Shivakumar to take over
Karnataka MLA said, Siddaramaiah has decided to resign as per high commands's order, he is likely to be shifted to the Rajya Sabha as per sources.
by Zee Media Bureau · Zee NewsKarnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to resign tomorrow amid the ongoing row over the state’s leadership. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will take over as the new Chief Minister of the state.
Amid the intensified Karnataka leadership row, Congress MLA R. V. Deshpande said that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah may resign tomorrow as per the Congress high command’s decision.
Congress MLA R. V. Deshpande, while talking to reporters, said, “The Chief Minister has already decided to resign, and he may resign tomorrow. MLAs wanted him to continue, but he said that I have given my word to the high command...The high command will decide who the next chief minister will be...,” quotes ANI.
Although he did not clarify whether DK Shivakumar will take over as the next Chief Minister.
Also Read: Karnataka leadership row: Siddaramaiah going to Rajya Sabha? Set to resign from CM post- Report
Karnataka Congress meeting
Meanwhile, according to Congress sources, separate long meetings were held in Delhi on Tuesday between Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
During the meeting, the Congress high command reportedly advised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to resign.
Siddaramaiah set for Rajya Sabha entry
However, the leadership also assured him that his importance within the party would not diminish after stepping down. He has reportedly been offered a proposal to be sent to the Rajya Sabha. Along with this, he has also been promised a major and significant role in the party at the national level.
The Congress high command has proposed shifting Siddaramaiah from Karnataka politics to a significant national-level role. However, the Siddaramaiah camp is not fully prepared to give up its political ground in the state. At present, several formulas are being discussed to maintain a balance of power.
Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle
If there is a change in power in Karnataka, major changes in the cabinet are also likely. This means the cabinet could be reconstituted afresh.
Discussions are ongoing among the ruling factions on whether more than one Deputy Chief Minister will be appointed or whether Shivakumar alone will continue in the position.
Alongside this, a new Karnataka Congress state president also has to be elected, as DK Shivakumar is currently handling both the responsibilities of state president and Deputy Chief Minister.
Karnataka leadership row
The Karnataka leadership row dates back to November 2025, after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years in office.
The issue traces back to the 2023 Assembly elections, when the DK Shivakumar camp claimed that the Congress high command had assured a rotational chief ministership formula of 2.5 years each.
At that time, Siddaramaiah urged the Congress high command to end the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the leadership.
He reportedly told top leaders that the high command’s decision should be final and binding on everyone, including himself and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and called for an end to the “confusion.”
Adding fuel to the speculation, DK Shivakumar claimed there was a “secret deal” among “five or six” senior Congress leaders regarding the Chief Minister’s post.
Aides close to Siddaramaiah denied the existence of any such deal. Meanwhile, supporters of Shivakumar sought clarity from the party’s central leadership back in November 2025.