Siddaramaiah Out, DK Shivakumar In: How Karnataka’s Leadership Transition Will Unfold
Siddaramaiah Out, DK Shivakumar In: How Karnataka’s Leadership Transition Will Unfold Published By, Last Updated: May 28, 2026, 16:17 IST After resigning as Karnataka CM
Siddaramaiah Out, DK Shivakumar In: How Karnataka’s Leadership Transition Will Unfold Published By, Last Updated: May 28, 2026, 16:17 IST After resigning as Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah is set to meet Rahul Gandhi today. Oath-taking ceremony likely on Sunday. DK Shivakumar is set to replace Siddaramaiah as the CM. Ending speculation over a leadership transition in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tendered his resignation on Thursday, citing directions from the Congress high command and paving the way for his successor. As political developments unfold in the southern state, Siddaramaiah is set to meet Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, later in the day. Gandhi emphasised that the new Karnataka cabinet should ensure representation for all castes and communities. According to sources, Gandhi indicated that the Congress was not in a hurry to administer the oath to a full-strength ministry immediately and that only a small group of ministers would be sworn in initially, along with the new CM.
The remaining cabinet expansion is expected to take place in a second phase. DK Shivakumar Set To Take Over Earlier in the day, the Karnataka Chief Minister informed his cabinet colleagues of his decision during a breakfast meeting hosted at his official residence in the state capital. According to sources, a decision regarding the Congress Legislature Party is likely to be announced on Saturday. Follow for live updates The resignation marks a major political transition in the Congress-led state government amid growing indications that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will be the next Chief Minister. Oath-Taking Ceremony Likely On Sunday As Karnataka witnesses a major political transition, the schedule for the oath-taking ceremony of the new Chief Minister is expected to be finalised this week, most likely on Sunday. However, it is not yet confirmed how many ministers will be sworn in along with the new Chief Minister.
It is learnt that Rahul Gandhi will attend the oath-taking ceremony. The development comes after days of intense political speculation surrounding a leadership change in the state following the Congress-led government completing three years in office. Congress High Command Clears Transition Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil confirmed that Siddaramaiah had informed cabinet colleagues of his decision to step down and that DK Shivakumar would succeed him as Chief Minister, in line with directions from the Congress high command. Addressing a press conference, Siddaramaiah said, “I have submitted my resignation to the Governor’s Office." “The Governor is not here. He is returning tonight, so I submitted the resignation to his office," he added. There were also indications that Siddaramaiah may travel to Delhi after resigning to obtain the final nod on appointments for Deputy Chief Minister posts. According to CMO sources cited by PTI, Siddaramaiah sought an appointment with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot after the Congress high command apparently asked him to make way for a leadership change.
However, Lok Bhavan sources said the Governor had left for his native city, Indore, for personal reasons, and Siddaramaiah had not yet formally sought time to meet him. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 28, 2026, 16:17 IST News india Siddaramaiah Out, DK Shivakumar In: How Karnataka’s Leadership Transition Will Unfold 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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