Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is reportedly scheduled to step down to make room for his deputy, DK Shivakumar amid significant speculation over an inevitable leadership transition in Karnataka due to pressure from party’s top brass. The Indian National Congress government is set to undergo a critical makeover with the 77-year-old veteran’s resignation on 28th May (Thursday) at Rahul Gandhi’s behest, reported The Times of India. According to insiders, a breakfast meeting was scheduled to be held with other party leaders after which he was expected to meet with Governor Thawarchand Gehlot in the afternoon.
“CM might resign after 3 pm on Thursday. He has already taken an appointment with the governor. About the next CM, the high command will decide,” stated Congress MLA Ashok K Pattan, adding, “Yes, there is a 100 per cent possibility,” in response to the potential elevation of Shivkumar to the position. “I was with the CM. He said, ‘I have decided to resign.’ I did not question him about why he was resigning. We tried to persuade him, saying, why don’t you continue,” Senior lawmaker RV Deshpande, confirming the resignation.
He added, “We said the decision was a surprise to us, but he said, ‘No, I have decided to resign.’ The MLAs who were there wanted him to continue, but he said he had given his word to the high command and would respect it. I told him it would be better if he continued, but he said he has committed to the high command and is therefore resigning.”
“What transpires, how it transpires, what is going to happen, what is the nature of the change, we have to wait and watch,” Siddaramaiah’s legal adviser AS Ponnanna cryptically mentioned. “Rahul Gandhi wants to establish himself as a champion of OBC and Dalits. But what message would he be giving by removing the lone OBC CM,” complained a Rajya Sabha MP of Congress. He was the only Congress chief minister from the backward caste.
Additionally, party leaders claimed that senior leaders in the state will be consulted before deciding on the cabinet’s composition. “We expected many leaders close to Siddaramaiah to be part of the cabinet,” a senior leader insisted.
Several formulas were being worked out, including announcement of four deputy chief ministers during the negotiations. “The CM has sought multiple deputy chief minister positions for leaders aligned with him as part of a broader transition arrangement being discussed with the Congress high command. Representation and internal balance are now a major part of the negotiations,” a senior Congress leader unveiled.
The events followed prolonged talks between Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and the party’s leadership. According to the party’s official statement, discussions were taking place over the next elections for the Rajya Sabha and the Karnataka Legislative Council. However, sources disclosed that Siddaramaiah was informed by party head Mallikarjun Kharge that he must resign in order to make room for a fresh face. He declined to agree promptly, instead demanding two days to make a decision. Siddaramaiah was also hesitant to delegate his post to Shivakumar, but Kharge informed him that he wasn’t allowed to participate in the selection.
According to sources, Siddaramaiah pushed for a meeting between the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and the party high command to choose his successor in an attempt to obstruct Shivakumar’s promotion to the top office. A formal CLP poll, according to Siddaramaiah’s supporters, might produce home minister G Parameshwara as a consensus candidate, particularly as certain MLAs were anticipated to back the senior Dalit politician.
“Currently, no meeting of the legislature party has been called by the Congress party. No other decision has been taken yet. As things evolve, we will inform you. I cannot tell you what will happen after one month, 20 days, tomorrow, six months, or one year-that would be speculation,” Congressman Randeep Singh Surjewala asserted, asking media to refrain from making speculations on the matter.
“Whatever decision the party will take in days to come I shall inform you. The only decision Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will take will only be in favour of Karnataka, not in favour of individuals,” he conveyed.
