NEW DELHI: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, wanted by Congress in various states as a trouble shooter, will be the Chief Minister to lead the party into the 2028 re-election campaign.
Even DK touched his feet and hugged the outgoing CM at a cabinet meeting called by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over a breakfast meeting at his residence in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday submitted his resignation as Chief Minister of Karnataka to the Governor, bringing the curtain down on a three-year leadership dispute with his deputy DK Shivakumar that has, at times, sidelined and even threatened to derail the party’s government. He also confirmed Shivakumar will succeed him.
Emotional scenes were witnessed, with his supporters crying, touching his feet as they met him.
“Congress high command proposed DKS as the next chief minister… I have agreed to this,” he had earlier said at a breakfast meeting with senior members of his government, including the chief minister-elect, at his Bengaluru residence.
Separately, the party’s state unit also published a ‘together we are united’ post on X, a public show of togetherness to counter inevitable criticism from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. Photos of the two leaders hugging and sitting together were accompanied by the message: “That day, this day, forever… unity is our strength! Public service is our eternal commitment.”
And news of Siddaramaiah’s ‘I quit’ message was greeted with cheers by Shivakumar’s supporters, many of whom gathered at his home to celebrate victory and distribute sweets.
All this followed 48 hours of hushed meetings and frenetic consultations with the Congress’ top leaders in Delhi, at which the Siddaramaiah was offered a compensation package, which includes a Rajya Sabha seat, to convince him to stand down.
Siddaramaiah and DKS met top Congress leaders – party boss Mallikarjun Kharge, senior figures Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and General Secretary KC Venugopal – separately and together over Monday and Tuesday. On paper the talks were about idenitfying candidates for three Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka that fall vacant this year.
Few, however, were fooled. And though the party later insisted on playing down any talk of a leadership switch, sources said the decision had been made and it was only a matter of time before it was announced.
Priyanka Gandhi, sources said, batted for the change.
Soon afterwards Siddaramaiah invited DKS and senior ministers to the breakfast meet.
The meeting – with masala dosa, idli, sambar, chutney, kesaribath and other Kannada delicacies on the menu – began this morning with that embrace and gesture of obeisance, images of which were quickly circulated online.
The message was not lost on those who have followed this sometimes acerbic spat.
The Sidda-DKS spat
Rumbling that carried on through 2024 intensified in November 2025 as DKS’ supporters put pressure on the Congress to honour a rumoured power-sharing deal brokered after the 2023 election win. The deal – which neither contender nor the party have ever acknowledged – said Siddaramaiah would be chief minister for the first 2.5 years and Shivakumar thereafter.
But enforcing the ‘deal’ proved to be a challenge, with Siddaramaiah refusing to stand down. Now, however, it seems he has been convinced to toe the party line, particularly amid fears that anti-incumbency could derail its re-election bid in 2028.
Whether Siddaramaiah will accept the parliamentary peace offering at this time is unclear. His supporters said the veteran leader would prefer to complete his term as the MLA from Varuna and work for the 2028 election before moving to national politics.
However that might work out, the leadership question is now settled. Siddaramaiah will make way for DKS, who many believe should have been the Congress’ first pick three years ago.
DKS should have been rewarded, his supporters have argued, for orchestrating the win and, critically, drawing the Vokkaliga vote from rivals Janata Dal Secular, allies of the BJP. Instead, the party then opted for Siddaramaiah – who has sway over the vast Ahinda vote bank – as its pick.
The governor angle
Amid all this drama, another issue is playing out, one over which the Congress has no control and one that could frustrate its hopes for a quick end to this dispute.
Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot left for Indore early Thursday after a family member fell ill.
This means that if DKS is to be sworn in as chief minister Saturday – as party and he appear to want – either Gehlot must return for the ceremony or it will be postponed, which will likely not go down well with the DKS camp.
Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation at the Raj Bhawan which transmitted it through fax to Gehlot in Indore.
Indications are that DK will take oath after the Rajya Sabha elections in the state on June 18 when three persons are to be elected. Leadership wanted Siddharamaiah to be one of the candidates while Congress President Kharge is tipped to seek re-election. Former President HD Deve gowda is the third leader retiring from Karnataka.
