The leadership tussle in Karnataka finally got its closure after months of wait and speculations after incumbent Deputy Chief Minister and Congress State Unit President, DK Shivakumar, was unanimously chosen as the new leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), marking the dawn of a new era that may face its own challenges. Shivakumar’s name was proposed by none other than outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, it was second by Dr Parameshwara, after which the CLP passed it unanimously.
Soon after being elected as the CLP leader, Shivakumar along with Siddaramaiah and other senior Karnataka Congress leaders, met Governor Thawarchand Gehlot to stake their claim to form the next government. The much-awaited oath ceremony is set to take place on June 3, and according to reports, it’s going to be a simple ceremony.
Long Wait, Several Speculations, And Finally Shivakumar Gets What He Wanted
The leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar first surfaced back in 2023 when the Congress party had won the 2023 Assembly elections but faced challenges to decide whom they should hand over the power — Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar.
Both the leaders’ presence in the party is crucial for the Congress party. Reflecting Siddaramaiah as the party’s face in the state is crucial for minorities, Backward Classes (including his own Kuruba community), and Dalits, as the voter base. Also, as a grassroots mass leader, his political influence spreads beyond his electoral stronghold in the Varuna constituency.
Whereas, Shivakumar’s voter base is dominant in the Vokkaliga community, that comprises roughly 12–15 per cent of the state’s population.
Realising the importance of both the leaders, the Congress stuck with a decision, finally managed to convince Shivakumar to take the Deputy CM’s post and named Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister, back in 2023. This solution was worked upon after reports surfaced at that time that a compromise had been reached based on a “rotational chief minister formula,” according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-a-half years, but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.
As the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025, speculations had begun about a possible leadership change in the state.
Over the months and up until now (May 30, 2026), there have been several occasions when there had been more reported activity that Shivakumar — as reportedly decided on the rotational chief minister formula in 2023 — began pitching his bid with the high command in New Delhi, to fulfill the commitment.
However, the path has not remained an easy one for DK as CM Siddaramaiah showed no signs of stepping down, in the previous months, and claimed that he will continue as CM for full 5 years.
Noticing that the issue had slowly started brewing tension within the party’s state unit, the Congress asked both the leaders to communicate, discuss the issues and sort it out together. The two leaders, as suggested by the party, did follow the advice – when the CM hosted his Deputy DK Shivakumar on breakfast. Though all this was much for a public display and to dismiss the speculations around the leadership change, the situation never changed on the ground.
And ever since the Kerala election results when Congress faced yet another challenge in order to reveal the CM name but finally went ahead with the cadres and public sentiment, speculations once again began surfacing in Karnataka on the leadership change and this time, Shivakumar got what he waited for long.
Committed to Serve People of K’taka with Dedication: Shivakumar
After being elected as CLP leader, Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar expressed his and the Congress party’s commitment to serving the people of Karnataka with dedication, integrity, and purpose.
“Humbled to be unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party at the CLP meeting held in Vidhana Soudha today. We remain committed to serving the people of the state with dedication, integrity, and purpose,” Shivakumar posted on X.
Soon after his election, Shivakumar met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Lok Bhavan and staked his claim to form a government in the state. The Governor invited him to take the oath as the state’s Chief Minister along with his cabinet colleagues on June 3 at the Lok Bhavan premises.
Siddaramaiah and other senior state leaders accompanied Shivakumar to the Governor. The swearing-in will take place at 4:05 PM on June 3.
Siddaramaiah Resigns As Karnataka CM
Siddaramaiah resigned as Chief Minister on Thursday, two days after Congress top leadership asked him to step down. Governor Gehlot accepted his resignation the next day and dissolved the Council of Ministers, bringing the long-drawn power tussle between him and Shivakumar to an end.
The CLP meeting at Vidhan Soudha was overseen by AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. Party general secretary (Organisation) Venugopal announced Shivakumar’s election as the new CLP leader.
The statement said that at the beginning of the meeting, Surjewala announced that the process of electing the new CLP leader would proceed based on a proposal from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and formally initiated the proceedings.
Subsequently, Siddaramaiah moved a one-line resolution stating that the issue of selecting the new leader had been left to the AICC’s discretion. Parameshwara seconded the resolution, and all the legislators supported it by raising their hands, it said.
Surjewala then announced a 10-minute break, and he, along with Siddaramaiah and Venugopal, proceeded to the Chief Minister’s chamber.
After that, the three leaders returned to the conference hall, where the legislators had assembled, and the process of electing the new leader was completed.
Shivakumar Moves Resolution, Praises Services of Outgoing CM Siddaramaiah
Subsequently, the newly elected CLP leader, Shivakumar, moved a resolution praising the services rendered by outgoing leader Siddaramaiah during his tenure as Chief Minister and sought the meeting’s support, the statement said, adding that the resolution was unanimously approved.
Clarifying the 10-minute break, Venugopal later told reporters, “Initially, the meeting unanimously authorised the Congress high command to propose a leader for the CLP. After that, we discussed the matter with the Congress high command. The high command suggested Shivakumar’s name as the leader.”
Smooth Transition Under Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Leadership, Says Venugopal
Venugopal said under the guidance of AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, a smooth transition of power took place in Karnataka.
He further said, “Under the leadership of Shivakumar, the Congress will return to power again with the support of Siddaramaiah in the 2028 assembly election in Karnataka.”
Meanwhile, lobbying has intensified among ministerial aspirants before the Congress high command. While some ministers from the dissolved Council of Ministers are trying to secure their positions in the new cabinet, legislators hoping for a cabinet berth this time have also reached the national capital.
According to sources, there are indications that the new cabinet will have a mix of both old and new members. Efforts will be made to strike a balance by ensuring representation while keeping caste equations, regions, and Siddaramaiah loyalists in mind.
Speculation is rife that there will be more than one deputy chief minister.
Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra accompanying his father to meet the Congress high command in Delhi on Friday has also led to speculations about his induction into the cabinet.
Talks are also ongoing regarding the new state Congress President, a post currently held by Shivakumar. Senior MLA and former Minister Satish Jarkiholi is said to be the frontrunner for the post.
As Shivakumar came out of the meeting, a large number of supporters who had gathered outside chanted “DK, DK” and hailed his elevation.
Earlier, Shivakumar paid obeisance upon entering the Vidhana Soudha for the CLP meeting by touching the threshold of the building. Shivakumar also offered prayers to Ajjaiah, a revered seer.
In the morning, he visited the Bengaluru unit of Sri Kadasiddeshwara Mutt (often referred to as the Ajjaiah Math). Shivakumar has a deep, long-standing spiritual connection to the Math, which is actually located in Nonavinakere, Tumakuru district.
In his letter to the Governor staking his claim, Shivakumar stated that the CLP, Karnataka, consisting of 135 members of the Indian National Congress, 2 associated members, and 1 Raita Sangha MLA, had unanimously elected him as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party.
With inputs from PTI