Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah resigns: Congress leadership tussle timeline 2023–2026
Synopsis
Three years after a disputed power-sharing deal kept Shivakumar waiting, Siddaramaiah's resignation on 28 May 2026 finally clears the path — but the journey involved honey-trap allegations, a Dalit CM demand, cabinet sackings, and repeated high-command summits. Karnataka's Congress leadership battle is one of the most prolonged internal party struggles in recent Indian state politics.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah resigned on 28 May 2026 , submitting his resignation at Raj Bhavan after a breakfast meeting with Cabinet ministers.
The Congress high command is now expected to facilitate a transition to Deputy CM and KPCC president D.
The leadership contest originated in April 2023 , when Rahul Gandhi said the CLP majority choice would become Chief Minister.
Congress won 136 Assembly seats in 2023, with both Siddaramaiah (AHINDA vote bank) and Shivakumar (Vokkaliga community) credited for the victory.
Key flashpoints included a disputed power-sharing agreement, a 48-politician honey-trap allegation in March 2025, and the sacking of minister K.
Rajanna in August 2025.
Shivakumar loyalists formally demanded a leadership change in November 2025 after Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years in office.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor's aide at Raj Bhavan on 28 May 2026, ending a prolonged leadership struggle within the state Congress unit that had simmered since the party's landslide victory in 2023. The Congress high command is now widely expected to facilitate a smooth transition of power to Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D. K. Shivakumar.
How the power contest began: April–May 2023
The seeds of the leadership contest were sown during the peak of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election campaign, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced that the candidate who secured majority support within the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would be named Chief Minister. Shivakumar capitalised on this by openly appealing to the Vokkaliga community, effectively denting the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)'s traditional support base in the Old Mysuru region. Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, consolidated the AHINDA vote bank, and together the two leaders powered Congress to a decisive win of 136 Assembly seats.
After the results on 13 May 2023, both camps lobbied aggressively for the top post. The high command ultimately persuaded Shivakumar to accept the Deputy Chief Minister's role, with Siddaramaiah being sworn in as Chief Minister on 20 May 2023. Shivakumar retained the state party presidency and was handed charge of the Bengaluru Development and Water Resources portfolios. His supporters, however, claimed a power-sharing agreement was in place — a claim Siddaramaiah categorically denied.
Escalation: November 2024 to March 2025
By November 2024, the Siddaramaiah camp was openly advocating for a Dalit leader as any future Chief Minister. Cooperation Minister K. N. Rajanna, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, and Excise Minister R. B. Thimmapur backed this demand, while Shivakumar loyalists simultaneously revived claims of the alleged power-sharing pact.
In February 2025, Rajanna — regarded as a close confidant of Siddaramaiah — declared his readiness to succeed Shivakumar as state party chief, triggering fresh alarm within the organisation. Around the same time, Jarkiholi reportedly met the party high command to press for Shivakumar's replacement as KPCC president.
The confrontation reached a flashpoint in March 2025 when Rajanna made an explosive statement in the Karnataka Assembly, alleging that 48 politicians, including central leaders, had been ensnared in honey-trap operations. The remarks triggered widespread political controversy and, by implication, pointed fingers at Shivakumar. Shivakumar hit back sharply, questioning why he should be concerned if he had no involvement.
High command interventions: May–November 2025
The Congress high command summoned both leaders to New Delhi in May 2025 for marathon discussions. On 29 June 2025, Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala visited Bengaluru to consult party MLAs, assess government performance, and address factional grievances.
By August 2025, Rajanna was dropped from the state Cabinet, reportedly for contradicting Rahul Gandhi's remarks on vote-theft allegations. Rajanna indirectly blamed Shivakumar for the move. The conflict escalated further in November 2025, when Shivakumar loyalists travelled to Delhi to publicly demand a leadership change after Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years in office. Siddaramaiah initially insisted he would serve a full five-year term, before later saying he would defer to the high command's decision.
Final weeks and the resignation: April–May 2026
Speculation peaked ahead of Shivakumar's 64th birthday on 15 May 2026, when Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain publicly predicted the high command would 'gift' Shivakumar the Chief Minister's post. On 30 April 2026, senior state leaders including Home Minister G. Parameshwara welcomed the possibility of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge taking over as Chief Minister, though Kharge himself declined to comment on the speculation.
On 26 May 2026, the high command again summoned Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to Delhi. The party officially described the discussions as relating to upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections, but Siddaramaiah returned to Bengaluru visibly subdued while Shivakumar remained in Delhi — a contrast that intensified transition speculation.
On the morning of 28 May 2026, Siddaramaiah convened a breakfast meeting with Cabinet ministers before formally announcing his resignation. He then proceeded to Raj Bhavan and handed his resignation to the Governor's aide. With the transition now set in motion, all eyes are on the Congress high command's timeline for formally installing Shivakumar as Karnataka's next Chief Minister.
Point of View
And the high command's silence on both spoke volumes. What the party still has not resolved is whether Shivakumar, once installed, will face the same destabilising pressure from the Siddaramaiah camp that he himself applied from the other side. Karnataka Congress has a structural problem with internal accountability, and changing the nameplate on the CM's office does not fix it.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah resign?
Siddaramaiah resigned on 28 May 2026 following sustained pressure from the Congress high command amid an intensifying internal leadership tussle within the Karnataka Congress unit. His resignation is expected to pave the way for Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar to be sworn in as Chief Minister.
Who is likely to become Karnataka's next Chief Minister?
Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D. K. Shivakumar is widely expected to succeed Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister. The Congress high command is reportedly working toward a smooth transition of power to Shivakumar.
When did the Karnataka Congress leadership struggle begin?
The power contest began in April 2023 during the Karnataka Assembly election campaign, after Rahul Gandhi announced that the candidate with majority CLP support would become Chief Minister. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar mobilised their respective vote banks, and the dispute over who should lead the government continued after Congress won 136 seats.
What was the alleged power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar?
Shivakumar's supporters claimed a formal power-sharing arrangement existed under which he would eventually take over as Chief Minister after serving as Deputy CM. Siddaramaiah categorically denied any such agreement. The dispute over this alleged deal remained a recurring flashpoint throughout the three-year leadership tussle.
What role did the honey-trap controversy play in the Karnataka Congress dispute?
In March 2025, minister K. N. Rajanna alleged in the Karnataka Assembly that 48 politicians, including central leaders, had been victims of honey-trap operations. The statement was widely seen as an indirect attack on Shivakumar and triggered a major political controversy, with Shivakumar publicly rejecting any personal involvement.
