Karnataka leadership change: Parameshwara says Congress will follow high command's call
Synopsis
Karnataka's Congress government appears on the brink of a leadership transition, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly set to visit Raj Bhavan on Thursday to tender his resignation. Rahul Gandhi is said to have personally asked Siddaramaiah to step aside for Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar — even as a bloc of ministerial loyalists is pushing back hard.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Home Minister G.
Parameshwara on 27 May said Congress leaders will abide by the high command's decision on the leadership change.
AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday; insiders say his visit is to oversee a smooth power transition.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly sought a Raj Bhavan appointment at 10.30 am on Thursday, 28 May to tender his resignation.
Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are scheduled for a breakfast meeting at 9 am on Thursday at 'Kaveri' , the CM's official residence.
Rahul Gandhi has reportedly asked Siddaramaiah to step down to facilitate Shivakumar's elevation, though a section of ministerial loyalists is opposed.
Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday, 27 May said state Congress leaders would fully abide by the decision of the party's high command amid intensifying speculation over a leadership change in the state. Parameshwara indicated that All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala would arrive in Bengaluru to address a press conference and provide official clarity on the matter.
What Parameshwara Said
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara stated, 'We are committed to abiding by the decision of the high command. Whatever the matter, the high command will make a decision. As of now, we only know about the discussions regarding the selection of candidates for the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.'
On Surjewala's visit, Parameshwara added, 'He will provide all details, including information related to the meeting. He may address a press conference either today or tomorrow. We do not know what Surjewala and other senior leaders are going to announce.'
Late-Night Meeting Denied as Political
Parameshwara also sought to dispel speculation surrounding a late-night gathering on Tuesday at the residence of Minister K.J. George. 'We had dinner together there. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did not discuss anything related to leadership change with us,' he clarified. The denial came as political observers noted that several senior ministers and legislators, including Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa — a close associate of the Chief Minister — had begun arriving at Siddaramaiah's residence amid the swirling political developments.
Siddaramaiah Resignation Reports and Thursday Meeting
According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly sought an appointment at Raj Bhavan at 10.30 am on Thursday, 28 May, and is expected to tender his resignation. Sources indicated that following a breakfast meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah is likely to proceed to Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation.
The Chief Minister has also reportedly personally invited all cabinet ministers for a meeting on Thursday, with messages said to have been sent to ministers on Tuesday night. Shivakumar's office confirmed the breakfast meeting at Siddaramaiah's official residence 'Kaveri' in Bengaluru at 9 am on Thursday. Shivakumar, currently in Delhi, is scheduled to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 5 am and arrive in Bengaluru at 8.30 am. Both leaders are expected to address a joint press conference after the meeting.
Surjewala's Visit and the Rahul Gandhi Factor
Surjewala's arrival in Bengaluru on Wednesday is officially linked to the upcoming Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, but insiders claim his extended stay is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition of power. Sources further stated that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has asked Siddaramaiah to step down to facilitate Shivakumar's elevation to Chief Minister — a move the Siddaramaiah camp says he is prepared to accept, given Gandhi's role in securing his second term. However, a section of ministers and loyalists is reportedly strongly opposed to the change and is pressing Siddaramaiah not to resign under any circumstances.
What Comes Next
All eyes are now on Thursday's breakfast meeting between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, the expected press conference by Surjewala, and the reported Raj Bhavan appointment. The sequence of events over the next 24–48 hours is likely to determine whether Karnataka gets a new Chief Minister — and whether the Congress manages the transition without triggering a factional rupture ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
If it unfolds as reported, is a textbook Congress high-command exercise — but the managed optics are already showing cracks. A faction of ministers openly resisting the move is a signal that Shivakumar's authority, if he does take over, will start under internal contestation. More telling is the timing: with no immediate electoral trigger, the reshuffle appears driven by intra-party equity rather than governance logic. Whether Shivakumar can consolidate quickly — or whether the Siddaramaiah camp extracts a price in cabinet berths and portfolios — will shape the stability of the government through its remaining term.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resigning?
According to sources, Siddaramaiah has reportedly sought an appointment at Raj Bhavan at 10.30 am on Thursday, 28 May, and is expected to tender his resignation. The Congress high command, including Rahul Gandhi, has reportedly asked him to step down to facilitate Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's elevation.
Who is likely to become the next Karnataka Chief Minister?
Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D.K. Shivakumar is widely reported to be the frontrunner to succeed Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister, following directions attributed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Why is Randeep Singh Surjewala visiting Bengaluru?
AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala's visit is officially linked to the Greater Bengaluru Authority elections, but party insiders say he is in Bengaluru to oversee a smooth leadership transition and is expected to address a press conference providing official clarity on the matter.
What did Home Minister Parameshwara say about the leadership change?
Parameshwara said Karnataka Congress leaders are 'committed to abiding by the decision of the high command' and that Surjewala would provide all clarifications. He denied that any political discussion on leadership change took place at the late-night gathering at Minister K.J. George's residence on Tuesday.
Is there opposition within Congress to Siddaramaiah's resignation?
Yes. According to reports, a section of ministers and staunch Siddaramaiah loyalists is strongly opposed to the move and is pressing the Chief Minister not to resign under any circumstances, even as the Siddaramaiah camp signals his willingness to comply with the high command's directive.
