Karnataka CLP meets Saturday to pick new CM after Siddaramaiah's exit
Synopsis
Karnataka's Congress government is on the cusp of a leadership change — Siddaramaiah is stepping down as Chief Minister after meetings with the top Congress brass in Delhi, and D.K. Shivakumar has been publicly tipped by a sitting minister as the Chief Minister-designate. The CLP meeting on Saturday at Vidhana Soudha is set to make it official.
Key Takeaways
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Karnataka has convened a meeting on Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 4 PM at Vidhana Soudha , Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah has resigned as Chief Minister and will preside over the CLP meeting as the outgoing CLP leader.
Karnataka Minister H.K.
Patil has publicly named D.K.
Shivakumar as Chief Minister-designate , with oath expected within two days.
Siddaramaiah met Rahul Gandhi , Mallikarjun Kharge , and K.C.
Venugopal in Delhi before returning to Bengaluru .
All MLAs, MLCs, and parliamentary members of the Karnataka Congress have been called to attend the CLP meeting.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Karnataka has convened a crucial meeting on Saturday, 31 May 2025, to elect a new CLP leader who is widely expected to be named the party's choice for Chief Minister, following Siddaramaiah's resignation from the post. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 PM at the Conference Hall of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
Key Developments
Siddaramaiah, who currently holds the position of Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, will preside over the meeting despite stepping down as Chief Minister. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Legislative Council floor leader N.S. Bose Raju, and all executive presidents of the party are expected to attend.
All Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), Lok Sabha members, and Rajya Sabha members have been asked to be present. The meeting was announced by Allamaprabhu Patil, MLA and Secretary of the Congress Legislature Party.
Siddaramaiah's Delhi Meetings
Before the CLP meeting, Siddaramaiah travelled to Delhi, where he met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. He also held discussions with AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal. Siddaramaiah, D.K. Shivakumar, Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, and former minister K.H. Muniyappa had lunch together before departing. Siddaramaiah was expected to arrive at HAL Airport in Bengaluru at 5:30 PM on Friday.
Shivakumar Tipped as Next Chief Minister
Karnataka Minister H.K. Patil on Friday indicated that D.K. Shivakumar is set to take over as Chief Minister, with the oath ceremony likely within the next two days. Patil said, “Shivakumar is already the Chief Minister-designate. Yesterday, when former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his thoughts and spoke about the discussions held in Delhi, he clearly stated that he had been advised to resign and that Shivakumar should be made the next Chief Minister. From that moment itself, it became clear that Shivakumar would be our next Chief Minister.”
Political Context
The leadership transition in Karnataka comes amid a power-sharing arrangement that has been closely watched since the Congress swept back to power in the state. Notably, the rotation of the Chief Minister's post between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had been a subject of speculation since the party's victory. The CLP meeting on Saturday is expected to formalise what senior leaders have already signalled in Delhi.
Point of View
With a sitting minister publicly naming the Chief Minister-designate before the CLP has even voted, raises questions about inner-party democracy. If the CLP meeting on Saturday is a formality rather than a genuine deliberation, it sets a precedent that high commands, not legislators, decide state leadership. For Karnataka Congress, the real test begins after the oath: whether Shivakumar can hold together a coalition of regional ambitions that Siddaramaiah, for all his political longevity, struggled to fully contain.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Karnataka CLP meeting being held on Saturday?
The Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka is meeting on Saturday, 31 May 2025, to elect a new CLP leader following Siddaramaiah's resignation as Chief Minister. The elected leader is expected to be named the party's candidate for the Chief Minister's post.
Who is expected to become Karnataka's next Chief Minister?
D.K. Shivakumar, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, is widely expected to be named the next Chief Minister. Karnataka Minister H.K. Patil publicly stated on Friday that Shivakumar is already the Chief Minister-designate and could take oath within two days.
Where and when is the CLP meeting being held?
The Congress Legislature Party meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 31 May 2025, at 4 PM at the Conference Hall of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
Who did Siddaramaiah meet in Delhi before the CLP meeting?
Siddaramaiah met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal in Delhi. He also had lunch with D.K. Shivakumar, Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, and former minister K.H. Muniyappa before returning to Bengaluru.
Who will preside over the Karnataka CLP meeting?
Siddaramaiah, who currently holds the position of Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, will preside over the meeting despite having resigned as Chief Minister.
