(Image source from: ANI)

Congress leader Siddaramaiah announced on Thursday morning that he will step down as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, ending a three-year struggle for leadership with his deputy DK Shivakumar. This conflict has at times disrupted the party's governance. He also stated that Shivakumar will take over the position. "The party's higher authority suggested DKS as the next chief minister. . . I have agreed," he mentioned during a breakfast gathering with key government officials, including the future chief minister, at his home in Bengaluru. The state unit of the party also shared a message on X, demonstrating their unity to counter likely criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Images of the two leaders embracing and sitting together were paired with the phrase: "From that day to this day, we are united. . . our strength is unity! Serving the public is our lifelong promise. "

When Siddaramaiah's announcement was made, Shivakumar's backers erupted in joy, with many gathering at his residence to celebrate and hand out sweets. This celebration followed 48 hours of secretive meetings and intense discussions with top Congress leaders in Delhi, during which Siddaramaiah was offered a package that included a Rajya Sabha seat to persuade him to resign. Siddaramaiah and DKS had meetings with major Congress leaders – including party head Mallikarjun Kharge, influential members Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and General Secretary KC Venugopal – both separately and together on Monday and Tuesday. Officially, the discussions were centered around finding candidates for three Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka that would soon be vacant. However, very few were deceived by that pretense. Even as the party later downplayed any speculation of a leadership change, sources informed NDTV that the decision was already in place, and it was only a matter of time before the announcement was made. Reports suggested that Priyanka Gandhi supported the change.

Shortly after, Siddaramaiah invited DKS and other senior ministers to the breakfast gathering. This meeting featured typical Kannada dishes such as masala dosa, idli, sambar, chutney, kesaribath, and others, commencing with a meaningful embrace that quickly circulated on social media. The significance of this gesture was clear to observers who have been following their often bitter rivalry. Tensions began rising again towards the end of 2024, escalating in November 2025, when DKS' supporters urged the Congress to adhere to an unconfirmed power-sharing agreement made after the election victory in 2023. According to this deal, which was never officially acknowledged by either party, Siddaramaiah was meant to serve as chief minister for the initial 2.5 years, with Shivakumar taking over afterward. However, implementing this agreement proved difficult, as Siddaramaiah declined to resign. Now, it seems he has been persuaded to comply with the party's direction, especially due to concerns that opposition could hinder their chances in the 2028 elections.

It is not certain if Siddaramaiah will accept the offer for peace in the parliament right now. Sources from NDTV indicate that the experienced leader would rather finish his term as the MLA representing Varuna and focus on the 2028 election before stepping into national politics. Regardless of what happens, the question of leadership has been resolved. Siddaramaiah will step aside for DKS, whom many believe should have been the Congress' top choice three years back. Supporters of DKS have claimed that he deserved recognition for managing the victory and, importantly, for attracting the Vokkaliga vote away from competitors like the Janata Dal Secular, who are partners with the BJP. Instead, at that time, the party went with Siddaramaiah, who holds influence over the large Ahinda voter base. Amid this situation, there is another problem taking place that Congress cannot control, which might hinder its desire for a quick resolution to this issue. Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot traveled to Mumbai early Thursday due to a family member's illness. This implies that if DKS is to take the oath as chief minister on Saturday, as he and the party want, Gehlot must either come back for the event or it will have to be delayed, which the DKS supporters are likely to view unfavorably.