Delhi Calling? Why Congress May Send Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah To Rajya Sabha, And What Happens Next
Delhi Calling? Why Congress May Send Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah To Rajya Sabha, And What Happens Next Written By, Last Updated: May 27, 2026, 11:30 IST
Delhi Calling? Why Congress May Send Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah To Rajya Sabha, And What Happens Next Written By, Last Updated: May 27, 2026, 11:30 IST Congress may be considering an “honourable transition” for Siddaramaiah - one that allows him to retain national relevance while making space for Shivakumar in Karnataka. Rapid Read Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (File image: PTI) The Congress leadership’s latest round of closed-door meetings in Delhi has reignited speculation over a possible leadership transition in Karnataka. Reports now suggest that the Congress could move Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the Rajya Sabha while Deputy CM DK Shivakumar takes over the state’s top post. While the party officially insists there is “no tussle" and “no discussion" on leadership change, multiple reports suggest the Congress high command is exploring a formula that gives Siddaramaiah a national role through the Rajya Sabha while easing the transition to a DKS-led government in Karnataka. The development has once again brought focus to the delicate power-sharing arrangement that emerged after Congress swept the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. Read More: Karnataka Congress Leadership Churn Deepens Amid Push For Multiple Deputy CM Formula What Was The 2.5-Year Formula? Ever since Congress returned to power in Karnataka, speculation has persisted over whether there was an informal “2.5-year CM formula" between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. Though the party never officially acknowledged such an agreement, the issue has repeatedly surfaced whenever the Karnataka leadership travelled to Delhi for consultations with the high command. This week’s meetings between Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders have again intensified those discussions.
According to reports citing party sources, Congress may be considering an “honourable transition" for Siddaramaiah – one that allows him to retain national relevance while making space for Shivakumar in Karnataka. Why Congress May Send Siddaramaiah To Rajya Sabha A Rajya Sabha berth offers Congress multiple political advantages simultaneously. First, it allows the party to avoid a direct public confrontation between its two tallest Karnataka leaders. Siddaramaiah remains Congress’s biggest mass leader in the state, particularly among backward classes, minorities and the AHINDA social coalition he carefully built over decades. Second, moving him to Parliament gives the party an experienced southern face at the national level at a time when Congress is trying to strengthen its footprint in the South, sensing the opportunity there. Third, it creates a smoother succession route for DK Shivakumar, who has long been seen as a claimant to the chief minister’s post after playing a central role in the Congress comeback in Karnataka. The challenge for Congress is that Siddaramaiah remains a political centre of gravity within the Karnataka unit. Any abrupt exit could trigger resistance from loyalist MLAs and ministers. That is why the Rajya Sabha route is being viewed less as a removal and more as a negotiated political repositioning. Congress Denies Any Change In Karnataka Even as speculation intensified, the Congress leadership publicly attempted to project unity. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said discussions in Delhi were focused only on upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. Siddaramaiah himself described reports of leadership change as “speculation", while party leaders maintained there was “no reality at all" to claims of a CM tussle.
Yet the political signalling has been difficult to ignore. Reports suggest Siddaramaiah met loyalist legislators after the Delhi consultations, while Shivakumar’s supporters have grown increasingly vocal about a leadership transition. What BJP Is Saying The BJP has seized on the uncertainty to accuse Congress of running Karnataka through “high command politics". BJP leaders have argued that the Congress government is consumed by internal power struggles instead of governance. Party leaders in Karnataka have repeatedly claimed that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are engaged in a prolonged battle for control of the state administration. The BJP is also portraying the developments as proof that Congress cannot manage competing power centres without intervention from Delhi. At the same time, Congress insiders privately point out that the BJP itself has used similar transition models when managing leadership changes. The Bihar Parallel: How BJP Transitioned Power One example repeatedly being discussed in political circles is Bihar. Earlier this year, Nitish Kumar resigned as Bihar chief minister after moving to the Rajya Sabha. He was succeeded by BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, marking the first BJP-led government in the state. The transition allowed the NDA to gradually shift power from a long-serving regional ally to the BJP while still giving Nitish Kumar a continued national role. Like Nitish in Bihar, Siddaramaiah remains too influential to be sidelined abruptly. A Rajya Sabha move offers the possibility of transition without open rebellion. What Happens Next? If Congress ultimately goes ahead with the plan, several things could follow quickly. Siddaramaiah would first have to resign as chief minister.
The Congress Legislature Party would then meet to elect a new leader, with DK Shivakumar emerging as the frontrunner. The party would also likely undertake a cabinet reshuffle to accommodate both camps and prevent factional fallout. Another key question would be timing. Congress may prefer to complete the transition before political friction deepens ahead of future local body and parliamentary contests. But there are risks. A leadership change could unsettle the government if Siddaramaiah loyalists feel marginalised. Congress would also need to ensure that its AHINDA social coalition remains intact under a new leadership structure. For now, the party continues to officially deny any change. But the intensity of consultations in Delhi, combined with reports of a Rajya Sabha offer, suggests Congress is at least seriously exploring a managed transition model. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 27, 2026, 11:30 IST News explainers Delhi Calling? Why Congress May Send Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah To Rajya Sabha, And What Happens Next Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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