Karnataka CM change ruled out, says Siddaramaiah ally KN Rajanna
Synopsis
Karnataka Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna, a Siddaramaiah loyalist, flatly denied any Chief Minister change is on the cards — even as the Congress high command held a day-long closed-door meeting in Delhi and then refused to take media questions. The denials may be genuine, or they may be the standard script before a reshuffle. Either way, the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar fault line is very much alive.
Key Takeaways
Rajanna , Madhugiri Congress MLA and Siddaramaiah associate, ruled out a Karnataka CM change on 26 May 2025 .
Rajanna said Delhi visits by Karnataka leaders are linked to Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections, and a possible cabinet reshuffle .
AICC General Secretary K.C.
Venugopal confirmed the Delhi meeting included Kharge , Rahul Gandhi , Siddaramaiah , Shivakumar , and Surjewala .
Congress leaders declined to take media questions after the briefing at Indira Bhavan , New Delhi.
The Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar leadership rivalry has persisted since the Karnataka Congress government took office in May 2023 .
Former minister and Madhugiri Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna, a close associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Tuesday, 26 May firmly dismissed reports of any leadership change in Karnataka, stating that no such discussion has taken place. Rajanna made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport.
What Rajanna Said
Rajanna attributed the flurry of Delhi visits by Karnataka Congress leaders to discussions around a possible cabinet reshuffle and the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections — not a change of the Chief Minister. 'There might have been discussions regarding the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. Additionally, the Chief Minister might have briefed Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi about a cabinet reshuffle. A clear picture will emerge only after the Chief Minister returns from Delhi,' he said.
On his own political ambitions, Rajanna was candid: 'Some may aspire to become ministers, and others may want to become the Chief Minister. But I have no such aspirations.' When pressed on whether he would accept a ministerial berth if offered, he said: 'If I get it, I will accept it. If I don't, I have no regrets.'
Delhi Meeting: What the Congress High Command Said
The Congress high command on Tuesday downplayed the Karnataka leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar. After a day-long marathon session at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi, senior national leaders maintained that the deliberations were entirely centred on electoral strategy.
AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said the meeting was attended by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, and himself. 'Today's discussions were only concentrated on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and Karnataka Legislative Council elections. The speculations being made by the media are only speculation. There is no reality in them at all,' Venugopal stated.
Notably, party leaders declined to take questions from journalists during the post-meeting briefing — a move that is likely to sustain rather than silence speculation about the power struggle.
Background: The Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar Tussle
The Karnataka Congress government has been shadowed by reports of friction between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar since it came to power in May 2023. Shivakumar, who led the party's campaign, has long been seen as a Chief Ministerial aspirant, while Siddaramaiah's camp has consistently pushed back against any suggestion of a mid-term handover. The recurring speculation reflects a broader pattern in coalition-era Congress governance, where power-sharing arrangements often remain contested below the surface.
What Happens Next
A clearer picture of the party's internal direction is expected once Siddaramaiah returns to Bengaluru from Delhi. The Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council election timelines will likely shape how the Congress high command manages the competing ambitions within the Karnataka unit in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
In fact, being deliberated. The refusal to take media questions after a day-long meeting involving the party president, the Leader of the Opposition, and both Karnataka power centres is not the behaviour of a leadership that has nothing to discuss. The Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar equation has been a managed tension since May 2023; the question is not whether it will be resolved, but when and on whose terms. Rajya Sabha seat allocation will be the next visible signal of who holds the upper hand.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Karnataka CM change happening in 2025?
As of 26 May 2025, Congress leaders have categorically denied any Chief Minister change. MLA K.N. Rajanna and AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal both stated that Delhi discussions were focused on Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections, not a leadership transition.
Why did Karnataka Congress leaders meet in Delhi on 26 May?
According to Congress leaders, the meeting at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi was focused on strategy for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections. Some reports had suggested it could involve discussions on a cabinet reshuffle or the CM post, which the party denied.
Who attended the Congress meeting in Delhi on 26 May 2025?
The meeting was attended by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, and AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal.
What is the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar rivalry about?
D.K. Shivakumar, who led the Congress campaign that won Karnataka in May 2023, has long been seen as a Chief Ministerial aspirant. Siddaramaiah was given the top post in a power-sharing arrangement, with reports of friction between the two camps persisting since then.
Who is K.N. Rajanna?
K.N. Rajanna is a former minister and sitting Congress MLA from the Madhugiri constituency in Karnataka. He is considered a close political associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and spoke to reporters at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on 26 May 2025.
