Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are scheduled to hold a breakfast meeting at 9 am on Thursday, 28 May, at the Chief Minister's official residence 'Kaveri' in Bengaluru, as speculation over an imminent leadership change in Karnataka reaches a fever pitch. Shivakumar's office confirmed the meeting on Wednesday, adding that both leaders are likely to address a press conference afterwards to respond to the swirling speculation.

How the Meeting Is Set Up

Shivakumar, who is currently in Delhi, is scheduled to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 5 am IST on Thursday and land in Bengaluru at 8.30 am, heading directly to Siddaramaiah's residence. The meeting is being closely watched as a potential staging ground for a formal announcement on the Chief Ministership. Sources suggest senior national leaders, including Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal and Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, may be present when any decision is formalised.

What the Congress High Command Has Reportedly Decided

According to sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reportedly asked Siddaramaiah to step aside to facilitate Shivakumar's elevation to Chief Minister. The Siddaramaiah camp has indicated he is prepared to resign, given that Gandhi was instrumental in securing him a second term as Chief Minister. However, a section of his cabinet colleagues and loyalists is said to be strongly opposed to his exit and is pressing him to stay.

The Congress high command has reportedly offered Siddaramaiah a larger role in national politics, along with the post of Deputy Chief Minister for his son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, and key portfolio assurances. To preserve social and political equilibrium, the high command is also said to be considering creating three or four Deputy Chief Minister posts to ensure representation for various communities, particularly the oppressed classes.

Surjewala's Arrival Signals Transition Management

Surjewala arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday. While his visit is officially attributed to matters related to the upcoming Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, insiders say his extended stay is aimed at managing a smooth transfer of power. This comes a day after a marathon meeting at Indira Bhavan in Delhi, where national Congress leaders publicly maintained that discussions centred solely on the Rajya Sabha and other elections — and declined to take media questions on the leadership issue.

A Pattern of 'Breakfast Diplomacy'

Thursday's meeting echoes a similar high-profile breakfast held in December 2025 at Shivakumar's residence, which featured traditional naati koli alongside idli, dosa, and coffee. That meeting, too, was framed as a show of unity amid leadership speculation, and was widely read as an attempt by the Congress to project a cohesive front. The reciprocal nature of Thursday's meeting — this time at Siddaramaiah's home — lends it additional symbolic weight.

Sources indicate Siddaramaiah may host a dinner for cabinet ministers and legislators before stepping down, with a formal announcement expected on Thursday in the presence of senior national leaders.

Ground Signals and What Comes Next

On the ground, supporters of Shivakumar have already begun putting up banners and circulating social media posts congratulating him on his anticipated elevation — a move that, while premature, reflects the confidence within his camp. The Congress party, however, has yet to issue any official statement confirming a leadership change. As of Wednesday, Siddaramaiah proceeded with his regular schedule, attending events to mark the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, including garlanding Nehru's statue at Vidhana Soudha. All eyes now turn to Thursday morning's breakfast — and what follows it.