Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to resign from his post this afternoon [1].

The transition marks a significant power shift for the Congress party in the state. Leadership is seeking a political reset to consolidate power and balance caste equations following internal struggles that began in 2023 [2, 3].

Siddaramaiah is slated to submit his resignation at 3 p.m. [1]. He is expected to meet with Governor Thawarchand Gehlot in Bengaluru to formalize the exit. Earlier this morning, Siddaramaiah hosted a breakfast meeting with D.K. Shivakumar [4, 5].

Party insiders indicate that Shivakumar is the primary candidate to take over the leadership. Minister HK Patil said, "DK Shivakumar will be the next Chief Minister" [1]. Other Congress sources said the transition is 100% likely [6]. An unnamed Congress MLA said, "Siddaramaiah has decided to resign" [6].

The move comes as the party attempts to stabilize its internal hierarchy. A Congress leader said, "We are working on balancing caste equations as part of the party’s reset in Karnataka" [6].

While some reports suggest the resignation is certain for today, other sources indicate it is a strong possibility [1, 7]. Similarly, while some party officials said Shivakumar is set to take charge, others said the succession is a subject of ongoing rumors [1, 8].

“DK Shivakumar will be the next Chief Minister.”

This leadership change represents a strategic effort by the Congress high-command to resolve long-standing internal friction between two of its most powerful figures in Karnataka. By shifting the premiership to D.K. Shivakumar, the party aims to realign its caste-based electoral appeal and refresh its administrative image ahead of future political challenges.