The Congress high command has asked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down, move to Delhi through the Rajya Sabha, and take up a larger national role ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The proposal has not yet received Siddaramaiah’s approval.
The development emerged from nearly seven hours of meetings in Delhi on Tuesday, even as senior Congress leaders publicly denied any discussion on a leadership change in Karnataka.
What Congress offered
According to sources, Siddaramaiah was told the party needed him in Delhi as one of its most prominent OBC faces particularly as Congress president Rahul Gandhi has sharpened the party’s social justice and caste census pitch nationally.
“He was told that he is a major OBC face and the party wants him to play a much bigger role nationally in the run-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections,” a source said. The leadership also assured him that “all other things and his issues will be taken care of” if he agreed to the move.
Siddaramaiah did not give a definitive answer during the meetings and sought more time. Upon returning to Karnataka, he reportedly convened consultations with close ministers and aides.
Inside the marathon meetings
The discussions ran across multiple rounds. A key one-on-one session reportedly included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, where Siddaramaiah was directly told the party wanted him to end his tenure as Chief Minister and shift to a national organisational role.
The broader meeting at Congress headquarters was attended by Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, KC Venugopal, and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala.
Sources said the leadership was careful to frame the move as a promotion rather than a removal, to avoid antagonising Siddaramaiah or triggering factional conflict in the Karnataka unit.
Congress publicly denies leadership change
Speaking after the formal meeting, KC Venugopal dismissed reports of a reshuffle. “Today’s discussion was only around Rajya Sabha polls and MLC elections. Whatever you speculated is not true. Stop speculation,” he told reporters. Neither Siddaramaiah nor Shivakumar addressed the media on the leadership question.
Shivakumar back in focus
The developments have revived speculation around DK Shivakumar as Siddaramaiah’s potential successor. Shivakumar’s supporters have long maintained that a power-sharing understanding existed when Congress formed the government in 2023, with Siddaramaiah taking the first term. The Congress leadership has never publicly confirmed such an arrangement.
Sources indicated the leadership is keen to avoid projecting any transition as a victory for one camp, aware that any perception of humiliation for Siddaramaiah could deepen factional divisions.
Rajya Sabha timeline and numbers
Nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections must be filed by June 8, leaving the Congress limited time to finalise both its Karnataka transition plan and parliamentary arithmetic. Of the four Karnataka Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant, Congress is expected to secure three and the BJP one. Kharge is likely to be renominated from Karnataka. The party is also considering DK Suresh, brother of Shivakumar, along with a possible woman or OBC nominee.
The Congress’s broader calculation ties the Karnataka transition directly to its 2029 national strategy with Siddaramaiah viewed as a key figure in strengthening the party’s OBC and backward class coalition against the BJP. For now, the reset remains on hold. Siddaramaiah is yet to say yes.