Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hosted a breakfast meeting for his cabinet colleagues at his official residence in Bengaluru on Thursday, intensifying speculation over a possible leadership change in the state Congress government, reported PTI.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, widely seen as the frontrunner to succeed Siddaramaiah, attended the meeting along with several cabinet ministers and senior leaders.
The gathering came amid mounting political chatter that Siddaramaiah could step down as chief minister following directions from the Congress high command.
Pictures from breakfast meeting fuel speculation
Photographs released by the Chief Minister’s Office added to the political buzz surrounding the meeting.
In one of the images, Siddaramaiah was seen warmly embracing Shivakumar, while another showed Shivakumar touching the chief minister’s feet and seeking his blessings, reported PTI.
The symbolic gestures immediately triggered fresh speculation within political circles that the Congress may be preparing for a formal transition of power in Karnataka.
Sources within the Chief Minister’s Office told PTI that Siddaramaiah had sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot after reportedly being asked by the party leadership to make way for a leadership change.
However, Raj Bhavan sources later told PTI that no official request for a meeting had yet been received, adding that the Governor had travelled to his hometown, Indore, for personal reasons.
Congress leadership yet to make formal announcement
Despite the intense speculation, the Congress leadership has not officially announced any decision regarding a change of chief minister.
AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, on Wednesday urged the media not to speculate on the issue and clarified that no meeting of the Congress Legislature Party had been called so far, reported PTI.
The Legislature Party meeting is significant because it formally elects the party’s leader in the Assembly, who then becomes the chief minister.
Surjewala, who arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday, met Siddaramaiah and several senior Congress leaders amid the ongoing political developments, reported PTI.
The current developments follow reports that the Congress high command had proposed a national-level role for Siddaramaiah along with a Rajya Sabha seat as part of a possible leadership transition.
However, reports suggest that Siddaramaiah has not immediately agreed to the proposal.
Rahul Gandhi’s role seen as crucial
The chief minister had previously stated on multiple occasions that he would step down if Rahul Gandhi personally asked him to do so.
Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to New Delhi earlier this week, where a series of meetings took place at the Congress headquarters.
The discussions reportedly involved Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has continued since the Congress came to power in Karnataka after winning the Assembly elections in May 2023.
Supporters divided over possible leadership change
As speculation intensified, supporters from both camps reacted strongly across Karnataka.
Shivakumar supporters celebrated in several parts of the state, including Bengaluru and Ramanagara, amid expectations that he could soon take over as chief minister, reported PTI.
At the same time, supporters of Siddaramaiah gathered outside his official residence to express solidarity and protest against reports of his possible exit.
The Karnataka State Federation of Backward Class Communities also warned the Congress leadership against replacing Siddaramaiah, reported PTI.
Federation leaders argued that the Congress returned to power due to the support of backward classes, minorities, and Dalits under Siddaramaiah’s AHINDA social coalition model, reported PTI.
They claimed there was no other leader within the party with Siddaramaiah’s mass appeal and warned of protests if he was forced to step down.
Rotational chief minister formula back in focus
The latest political developments have once again revived discussion around the reported “rotational chief minister formula” within the Karnataka Congress.
After the 2023 Assembly election victory, there was intense competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post.
The Congress leadership eventually appointed Siddaramaiah as chief minister while Shivakumar was made deputy chief minister and state Congress president.
Although party leaders never officially confirmed it, there were persistent reports at the time that a compromise formula had been worked out under which Shivakumar would assume the chief minister’s post after two-and-a-half years.
Interestingly, pictures from Thursday’s breakfast meeting also showed Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar sharing a traditional South Indian breakfast that included idlis, vadas, sambar, chutney, bisi bele bath and kesari baat, even as political uncertainty continued to dominate Karnataka’s political landscape.
(With inputs from PTI)