Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed on Monday that he has been called to Delhi by Congress leadership for a meeting on May 26 at 11 a.m., according to an NDTV report citing party sources. Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said he was informed about the meeting by Congress general secretary K C Venugopal but added that he was unaware of the agenda. "I have been summoned to Delhi. I don't know the subject of discussion. I have meeting scheduled at 11am (Tuesday). Speculation will always be there," he stated. High-level sources in the Congress have now revealed that a decision on the Chief Minister's post will be taken in the next two to three days, with Rahul Gandhi expected to speak to both leaders. The development comes amid intense discussions within the Karnataka Congress over a possible leadership transition, nearly three years after the party came to power in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has not been invited to the Delhi meeting, as reported by NDTV. When asked about a possible leadership change on Thursday, Shivakumar gave a cryptic "good time will come" reply. Shivakumar has maintained that he would travel to Delhi if called by the party leadership, saying "Will go to Delhi if high command calls. Not my job to comment on Chief Minister change." The Shivakumar camp has repeatedly pushed for his elevation as chief minister, citing an alleged power-sharing understanding reached after the Congress victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. However, Siddaramaiah has maintained that he will complete a full five-year term while also asserting that he would abide by any decision taken by the Congress high command. According to NDTV, DK Shivakumar may be offered Home Ministry as part of any leadership resolution, though this scenario would effectively signal Siddaramaiah's continuation for the full term.
Within the party, concerns are reportedly growing that the prolonged uncertainty over leadership is affecting governance and denting the government's public image ahead of the 2028 Assembly polls, according to NDTV. Pressure has also mounted for a Cabinet reshuffle, with several Congress legislators aspiring for ministerial positions. Siddaramaiah is believed to be in favour of reshuffling the Cabinet, while Shivakumar wants clarity on the leadership issue first. The Karnataka Cabinet currently has three vacancies following the resignation of B Nagendra over alleged embezzlement charges, the removal of K N Rajanna, and the recent death of minister D Sudhakar. Out of the 136 Congress MLAs, Siddaramaiah has the backing of more than 100 legislators, giving him significant political leverage in any leadership negotiations.
During his visit to Delhi, Siddaramaiah may discuss the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections as well, according to NDTV. Four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka are becoming vacant, of which Congress can win three. The meeting with Congress high command is expected to yield crucial decisions on leadership and governance matters. Discussions will also be held on the state cabinet, Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council seats, sources indicate. The leadership crisis had first erupted last November on the completion of two-and-a-half years of the Congress government, with the Shivakumar camp reminding the high command of the reported power sharing formula agreed upon in 2023. The crisis showed renewed signs of eruption last week around Shivakumar's birthday when his supporters put up "Next CM" posters at Congress offices and brought cakes with the same message.
Sources have revealed that the Congress leadership is considering multiple scenarios for resolving the leadership tussle. The first option is to allow Siddaramaiah to continue as Chief Minister, permitting him to go ahead with a long-pending cabinet reshuffle and expansion, which would strengthen his position within the government. Another scenario involves strengthening the cabinet portfolios of DK Shivakumar and bigger roles for his brother and close aides. The third option is to persuade Siddaramaiah to step down and pave the way for his Deputy to become Chief Minister, in line with the long-standing power sharing promise. Another scenario being discussed is a possible national role for Siddaramaiah, with the Congress leadership considering moving him to Delhi by offering him the post of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge is also being viewed by some within the party as a consensus and safe choice to lead the government in Karnataka. However, if the Congress leadership cleared the Cabinet reshuffle before any leadership change, it may effectively signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as chief minister for the full term, limiting Shivakumar's prospects for the top post.
