Karnataka’s Chief minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar, along with ministers, during a breakfast meeting, at the CM’s official residence in Bengaluru on May 28, 2026.
| Photo Credit: CMO
Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed his cabinet colleagues of his decision to step down, during a breakfast hosted at his residence in Bengaluru, official sources said on May 28.
His current deputy and possible successor, D. K. Shivakumar, and other cabinet colleagues attended the breakfast meeting.
In a picture shared by the Chief Minister’s Office, Siddaramaiah is seen hugging an emotional Mr. Shivakumar. In another picture, CM-hopeful Mr. Shivakumar is seen touching the feet of Mr. Siddaramaiah, and taking his blessings.
Karnataka’s Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar touches the feet of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the breakfast meeting, in Bengaluru on May 28, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
CMO
According to CMO sources, the CM sought an appointment with the Governor after the party high command apparently asked him to make way for a leadership change in Karnataka.
However, Lok Bhavan sources said Mr. Siddaramaiah is yet seek an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who has left for his native Indore for personal reasons.
As the political heat rises in the southern State in anticipation of a new CM, AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, on May 27, had clarified that the Congress has not called for a meeting of its legislature party in Karnataka, and that no other decision has been taken yet. He requested the media not to speculate on the issue.
The Legislature Party selects its leader, who becomes the CM.
Surjewala, who arrived in Bengaluru on May 27, also met Mr. Siddaramaiah and other senior leaders.
The development follows the Congress high command reportedly asking Mr. Siddaramaiah to make way for a leadership change in the State and offering him a central role in the party with a Rajya Sabha seat. As per reports, Mr. Siddaramaiah has not immediately accepted the central role.
Some sources indicate Mr. Siddaramaiah may have decided to step down because the message came directly from the top party leader, Rahul Gandhi. The CM has repeatedly stated that he would step down if the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha asked him to do so.
Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar were summoned to Delhi on May 26 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 Mr. Surjewala.
Published – May 28, 2026 12:01 pm IST
