Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday in Bengaluru, dissolving the council of ministers with immediate effect. This decision came after Siddaramaiah stepped down at the behest of the Congress high command. According to an official order from Lok Bhavan, Siddaramaiah will continue to serve as Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are made.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on me under Article 164(1) of the Constitution of India, I, THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT, Governor of Karnataka, have accepted the resignation of Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka, and dissolved the Council of Ministers headed by him with immediate effect. Siddaramaiah shall continue to function as Chief Minister till alternative arrangements are made,” the order stated.
This development facilitates a leadership transition in the state, with Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar poised to assume the role of Chief Minister. The Congress leadership is currently engaged in consultations in New Delhi, where Shivakumar is scheduled to meet with key party figures including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge to finalize government formation, cabinet composition, and organizational appointments.
Key discussions will involve Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala. Decisions regarding a cabinet reshuffle, Rajya Sabha nominations, and MLC candidates are expected to be made, according to ANI, which cited sources. There are indications that several ministers from the outgoing cabinet may not be retained in the new administration.
To ensure social and regional equity, the Congress is contemplating the appointment of up to four Deputy Chief Ministers. Yathindra, Siddaramaiah’s son and a member of the legislative council, is likely to be included in the new cabinet and may be offered a significant portfolio to reflect the continuity of his father’s political legacy.
A Congress legislative party meeting, anticipated to be a procedural formality, is expected to be scheduled soon, after which the date for Shivakumar’s swearing-in ceremony will be announced. Shivakumar arrived in New Delhi late Thursday and addressed reporters briefly, commenting, “The weather is bad today. My CM has landed in Jaipur. Lots of turbulence.”
Siddaramaiah’s flight to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur due to inclement weather, where he met former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot along with Randeep Surjewala. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah remarked, “Had a warm meeting with former Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot at the Jaipur airport today.”
This political reshuffle precedes the Rajya Sabha elections, in which the Congress is projected to secure two of the four seats from Karnataka and is vying for a third, requiring additional support, according to party sources.
