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DK Shivakumar is likely to be picked as leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who were in New Delhi on Friday, met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi. (Source: PTI file)
The political landscape in Karnataka is undergoing a massive shift as the Congress party is attempting a smooth leadership transition. Following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation, the party’s high command in New Delhi is currently finalising the blueprint for a new administration, which is likely to be led by DK Shivakumar.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who were in New Delhi on Friday, met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence at 9 am was significant as Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told the former party chief that he has fulfilled his promise of resigning from the chief minister’s post, paving the way for a smooth transition in Karnataka.
Sources said Siddaramaiah only met Rahul Gandhi, as Sonia Gandhi was not present during the meeting. He is reportedly seeking a berth for his son and loyalists in the new Karnataka Cabinet, including the post of deputy chief minister.
Here are the top developments regarding the leadership transition and cabinet restructuring:
High-Command Deliberations in New Delhi
Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar held separate, high-level meetings with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Friday to finalise the transition road map.
Congress Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala described Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi as “very pleasant,” stating they discussed multiple political issues as the veteran leader expressed his gratitude for the opportunities given to him over his long career.
CLP Meeting Scheduled for Saturday
A formal Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting has been officially scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 PM in Bengaluru.
AICC observers, including K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala, will oversee the meeting, where MLAs will formally elect the new leader. The date for the official swearing-in ceremony will be finalised immediately after.
Radical Cabinet Overhaul: The ‘Kamaraj Plan’ Model
50% New Faces: In a bid to beat anti-incumbency ahead of the 2028 assembly polls, senior leaders, including Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed and former Minister M. Veerappa Moily, suggested that nearly half of the cabinet will be replaced with fresh faces.
“Absolutely, new faces will be introduced. As we have stated previously, we believe that 50% of the cabinet positions should be allocated to new faces,” Ahmed said.
Organizational Shift: Under a modified “Kamaraj Plan,” senior ministers who have completed three years in office are likely to be dropped from the cabinet and reassigned to grassroots party organisational work.
Regarding the ministers who are to be replaced, those who are experienced and have served as ministers for three years, they should be assigned to party organisational work. We intend to implement a ‘Kamaraj Plan’ model,” Congress Chief Whip in the Assembly Saleem Ahmed said.
Four Deputy CMs: To maintain strict regional, social, and caste balances across the state, party sources indicate that the high command is actively considering the appointment of four Deputy Chief Ministers under DK Shivakumar.
Intense Lobbying Begins For Cabinet Posts
Seven prominent Congress leaders from Kolar, including three MLAs and two MLCs, have submitted a formal letter to Mallikarjun Kharge demanding three ministerial berths for their district. Specifically, they have requested a spot for S. N. Narayanaswamy under the Dalit quota, and berths for K. Y. Nanjegowda and Kothur G. Manjunath under the General quota.
Individual MLAs, including Basavaraj Shivannavar, have publicly made appeals to the high command to be granted an opportunity to serve in the incoming cabinet.
Also Read | Eye On 2029: Congress’s Karnataka Switch Comes With A Delhi Offer For Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah’s Future Role
Senior party leaders, including Satish Jarkiholi, emphasised that Siddaramaiah will not retire from state politics. He will remain a central guiding figure for the government and will actively spearhead the strategy for the 2028 Karnataka Assembly Elections. Siddaramaiah has rejected the Congress party’s Rajya Sabha seat offer. He also said that he wants to remain in Karnataka and is not keen on a central role, which the party high command had suggested to him.
Siddaramaiah is learnt to have discussed his future plans and the new government formation in the southern state in his meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
Rajya Sabha and MLC Elections
Beyond the cabinet composition, the Congress high command is also finalising candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and MLC vacancies. DK Shivakumar stated that the final selection lists do not fall within his jurisdiction and will be formally released by the central leadership alongside lists from other states.
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