Amid intense speculation over a leadership transition in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hosted a breakfast meeting for his cabinet colleagues at his ‘Kaveri’ residence in Bengaluru on Thursday morning.
Several ministers attended the meeting, including Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who is widely expected to replace Siddaramaiah as chief minister.
The meeting saw a public display of warmth between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, whose rivalry over the chief minister’s post has dominated Karnataka politics for the past three years. In a gesture that drew attention, Shivakumar was seen touching Siddaramaiah’s feet as a mark of respect before the two leaders shared a warm embrace.
Senior ministers including Priyank Kharge, K. J. George, M. B. Patil, Ramalinga Reddy and H. K. Patil were also present at the gathering.
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Reports suggest Siddaramaiah may tender his resignation later in the day to pave the way for Shivakumar to take over the top post. The anticipated transition follows a series of high-level consultations in New Delhi, where both leaders separately met the Congress high command.
The leadership tussle dates back to a reported power-sharing understanding reached in 2023 after the Congress returned to power in Karnataka. According to reports, the party leadership had informally agreed that Shivakumar would take over as chief minister midway through the government’s term after Siddaramaiah was chosen for the role following the Assembly election victory.
However, the Congress has never officially confirmed such an arrangement. The Siddaramaiah-led government crossed the halfway mark of its tenure in November last year, and supporters of Shivakumar have reportedly intensified pressure on the party leadership after the government completed three years in office on May 20.