Siddaramaiah Steps Down as Chief Minister; DK Shivakumar Set to Take Over
D.V. Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka, steps down after two-and-a-half years in office to make way for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, amid internal party agreements and pressures from senior leaders.
Highlights
- •Siddaramaiah's resignation
- •Leadership change in Karnataka
- •Unwritten agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar
- •Congress high command's role
KARNATAKA's political landscape is set to undergo a significant transformation, as Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar prepares to ascend to the pinnacle of power after taking over from D.V. Siddaramaiah. The latter's decision aligns with his 'commitment' to the Congress high command. On Thursday, in a breakfast meeting at his official residence "Kaveri" in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah announced his resignation, honouring an unwritten agreement struck after he completed two-and-a-half years in office.
This development comes following a meeting with senior Congress leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, reportedly reinforced this 'commitment' by advising Siddaramaiah to step down and hand over power to Shivakumar.
Breakfast Meeting: The Handover Ceremony
The breakfast meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah featured several ministers present, including D.K. Shivakumar himself, M.B. Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Dr G. Parameshwar, Madhu Bangarappa, Ramalinga Reddy and Cheluvarayaswamy among others. While it was clear that the transfer of power was imminent, the ceremony reflected a personal touch as Shivakumar hugged and paid respects to Siddaramaiah upon announcing his next role.
Despite pressure from party leaders, ministers, and MLAs urging Sidraammaiah not to resign, his firm stance ensured a smooth transition. This has set the stage for Shivakumar's anticipated appointment at the upcoming Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting.
