Bengaluru

Apparently asked to make way for his deputy DK Shivakumar's elevation in lines with a 2023 "rotational formula", Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to host his cabinet colleagues for breakfast on Thursday, and may also call on the Governor with his resignation.

Keeping up the suspense, the 77 year-old veteran leader refused to comment on the raging speculations on Wednesday and said he would comment on the matter a day later.

Speculations of a change of guard have been intense in the wake of the party's top brass having had marathon discussions with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in Delhi on Tuesday, with reports inidcating the transition of power is very much likely now. The issue has been dominating Karnataka's political discourse since last year, gaining momentum ahead of November 20 when the government crossed its half way mark of two-and-a half years.

Speculations are rife that Siddaramaiah would resign on Thursday paving way for Shivakumar to become the next CM of Karnataka.

"Yes, he has sought time to meet the Governor tomorrow," a highly placed source close to the chief minister told PTI. According to sources in the Congress, Siddaramaiah may tender his resignation to Gehlot.

Home Minister G Parameshwara, whose name has been off-and-on popping up in the context of the CM race, on Wednesday remained tight-lipped about Siddaramaiah's meeting with the Congress high command in Delhi, saying no one is aware what was discussed, even while downplaying the buzz around his possible elevation. He said everyone has to abide by the party's decision.

Meanwhile, the CM likely to treat his cabinet colleagues for breakfast on Thursday.

Shivakumar, who is in Delhi, was initially scheduled to return here this afternoon. He has now revised his programme and will leave the national capital on Thursday. He also is likely to attend the breakfast meeting at the CM's official residence here. Incidentally, the two leaders had hosted each other for breakfast late last year in an apparent effort at breaking the logjam over the leadership tussle.

Though the Congress high command has offered Siddaramaiah a central role in the party along with a Rajya Sabha seat in the event of his stepping down, he has reportedly not accepted the central role immediately.

According to sources, Siddaramaiah might have resolved to step down as the message came directly from top party leader Rahul Gandhi.

The CM had been repeatedly saying that he would exit if asked by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

However, the Congress on Tuesday termed as "mere speculation" the talk about any leadership change in Karnataka and asserted that the day-long discussions between the central and state brass were solely focused on the upcoming elections to the Rajya Sabha and the state legislative council.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to Delhi on Tuesday by the party, where there were back-to-back meetings at the Congress headquarters involving Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, the latter being in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, the CM on Wednesday preferred not to talk about the issue.

"I will speak on it tomorrow," Siddaramaiah said, in response to a question regarding his Delhi visit and discussion with the Congress high command. He was speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to the statue of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at Vidhana Soudha on his death anniversary.

Meanwhile, Parameshwara said that Surjewala is expected to arrive in Bengaluru and make an official announcement on the issue.

The minister, who accompanied the CM during Tuesday's visit to Delhi, declined to comment on the leadership change issue or Siddaramaiah's meeting with the high command.

Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said, "The party high command called the chief minister, he met with the Congress president, Rahul Gandhi and general secretaries at the AICC headquarters for about three to four hours. What was discussed inside, none of us know. There is a lot of speculation in the media."

Asked whether Siddaramaiah shared anything with him about the meeting, he said, "nothing was discussed..."

Asked about his own aspirations for the CM's post in case Siddaramaiah resigns, Parameshwara said the high command's decision is final and everyone will abide by it.

"All such talks are irrelevant, the high command will have to decide. Whatever we say is irrelevant," he said.

Asked whether he has appealed to the high command for an opportunity, Paremeshwara replied that he has not met anyone from the high command regarding this.

To a question on reports that Siddaramaiah has proposed his name for the CM post, Parameshwara said, "I don't have information regarding what was discussed inside. As AICC General Secretary said, the discussion was regarding Rajya Sabha and Council polls."

PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi said nothing can be said until there is an official announcement, and clarity may emerge at the breakfast meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah on Thursday.

Responding to a query on the chances of him becoming the next state Congress President or Deputy CM, succeeding Shivakumar in both roles following the current developments, he said no discussions have happened in this regard and that he will abide by the party high command's decision.

"Officially, nothing has been said, but still speculations are making rounds. Depending on whatever the CM says at the breakfast meeting tomorrow, things will be confirmed and a full stop can be put (to speculations). I will participate in the breakfast meeting tomorrow," Jarkiholi, who is considered close to Siddaramaiah, told reporters in Delhi

"We are not aware as to what direction the high command has given to the CM... we will get to know at the breakfast meeting. Let's wait till tomorrow."

Asked about his decision is if offered the deputy CM post in the new cabinet, Jarkiholi said everyone will have to abide by the party's decision.

Several AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) leaders in the party, seen as part of Siddaramaiah's camp, want one of their own to occupy the coveted post if the leadership changes. Also, there is a demand for a "Dalit CM," with Congress chief Kharge's name being floated by a section of the party, along with Parameshara.

Parameshwara termed the breakfast meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah as a "courtesy meeting", saying this is not the first time CM has called his cabinet colleagues to share a meal.

The leadership tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.

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There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the CM's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May 2023, and the Congress had then managed to convince the latter and made him deputy CM.

There were reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational chief minister formula," according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-half years, but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.