Bengaluru: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will convene in Bengaluru on Saturday evening to formally elect Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as its new leader, following Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot's acceptance of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation. If all proceeds as planned, Shivakumar will succeed Siddaramaiah, marking Karnataka's first leadership transition in 17 years.
CLP Meeting and Leadership Election
AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and RS Surjewala will attend the CLP meeting at the Vidhana Soudha. Members are expected to first express their appreciation for Siddaramaiah's tenure before electing Shivakumar as leader. After the formal election, Shivakumar is likely to submit the CLP resolution to the governor at Lok Bhavan and stake claim to form the new cabinet.
Satish Jarkiholi, who is expected to replace Shivakumar as Karnataka Congress chief, indicated that the high command's decision could be announced by Siddaramaiah during the CLP meeting.
Cabinet Formation and Swearing-In
Sources close to Shivakumar stated that 5 to 10 ministers may take oath alongside him if consensus is reached, while a larger cabinet expansion will be addressed later after consultations on caste, regional, and political representation. The swearing-in date will be finalized based on the availability of senior Congress leaders and astrological consultations. Shivakumar is said to have consulted family astrologer BS Dwarakanath, who suggested Sunday, Monday, and Friday as auspicious dates for the ceremony. Sources added that Shivakumar is keen to have Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra present at the oath-taking ceremony and will make a final decision after consulting them. Shivakumar shares a close rapport with Priyanka, and she reportedly supported the chief ministerial change.
Siddaramaiah's Role and Discussions
On Friday, Siddaramaiah met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, accompanied by his son Yathindra. Sources said he declined an offer for a Rajya Sabha seat and instead pushed for adequate cabinet representation for his loyalists in the new government, while also seeking a larger political role for his son. Siddaramaiah reportedly proposed reviving a coordination committee model to act as a bridge between the party and the government, a role he previously held during the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2018.
However, sources indicated that the Congress high command was not inclined toward this proposal, as the party currently enjoys a clear majority on its own and sees little need for such an arrangement. Instead, they are trying to persuade Siddaramaiah to accept the Rajya Sabha offer and have asked him to respond by June 5.
Shivakumar's Consultations and Message
Shivakumar also held discussions with AICC leaders in Delhi regarding cabinet formation and has sought appointments with Rahul and Priyanka for the oath ceremony. In a message on X, Shivakumar described Siddaramaiah's political journey as inspirational and sought his continued guidance. "Let us all move forward together for the progress of Karnataka," Shivakumar said. "God does not give boons or curses. He only gives opportunities. What truly matters is what we make of those opportunities," he added.
