Agencies | Bengaluru:
Senior Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar is set to take over as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka after being elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), marking the culmination of a long-anticipated leadership transition within the party.
The official communication confirming Shivakumar’s election as CLP leader will be forwarded to Lok Bhavan, following which he is expected to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and formally stake claim to form the new government.
Shivakumar has indicated that the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 3.
The leadership change comes after Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor on Thursday, stating that he was acting in accordance with the decision of the Congress high command. The resignation was subsequently accepted, ending months of speculation over a possible change in the state’s leadership.
On Friday, Siddaramaiah met senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi as preparations for the transition gathered pace. According to party sources, Siddaramaiah thanked Rahul Gandhi for the opportunity to serve as Chief Minister and informed him that he had stepped down in line with the party leadership’s directive.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted Siddaramaiah’s resignation and dissolved the Council of Ministers with immediate effect.
The developments follow a series of marathon discussions in New Delhi involving the Congress high command, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to finalise the leadership transition and outline the formation of the new government.
Congress sources indicated that between eight and ten ministers are likely to be sworn in alongside Shivakumar when the new government takes office.
Since the Congress secured a decisive victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, there had been persistent speculation about a power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The arrangement was widely believed to involve a transfer of power after two-and-a-half years, a formula that now appears to have been implemented.
