In a significant development that could reshape Karnataka’s political landscape, the Congress high command appears to be steering towards a change of guard in the state, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah being offered an honourable exit route that includes a potential Rajya Sabha seat.
According to sources, the veteran leader met with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and state in-charge Randeep Surjewala alongside his deputy DK Shivakumar for extended discussions lasting over six hours. During a separate one-on-one interaction, Rahul Gandhi is understood to have urged Siddaramaiah to take up a national role within the party and asked him to respond within a week.
Venugopal later told reporters that the meetings focused solely on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and legislative council elections, dismissing speculation about any leadership change as mere conjecture. However, party insiders revealed that Siddaramaiah expressed reluctance to move into national politics, while Rahul emphasised the need for the experienced OBC leader to bolster the party’s national presence.
This marks a shift in Rahul Gandhi’s stance, as he had previously backed Siddaramaiah strongly despite internal reservations. Shivakumar, who served as the state unit chief during the party’s 2023 victory over the BJP, has long maintained that a rotational arrangement for the chief minister’s post was agreed upon at the time of government formation.
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Siddaramaiah is said to have indicated he would prefer stepping down gracefully rather than confronting the high command. Discussions also reportedly touched on a possible cabinet position for his son Yathindra as part of the negotiations. If Siddaramaiah moves to the Rajya Sabha, it could open the door for him to replace Kharge as Leader of Opposition in the Upper House, especially given the Congress president’s impending re-election to the Rajya Sabha next month.
The move gains relevance ahead of elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka in June, where the party is confident of securing at least three. Siddaramaiah’s camp maintains strong support within the legislature party, evidenced by a list of 108 signatures submitted to underscore his position.
Following the Delhi meetings, Siddaramaiah consulted with loyal ministers and MLAs. He is expected to hold further discussions in Bengaluru before finalising his decision. Congress leaders are keen on a negotiated transition to prevent any internal crisis similar to past episodes in other states, while remaining mindful of Siddaramaiah’s seniority and the influence of his Kuruba community.
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