Siddaramaiah may step down, Shivakumar poised for top job

With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking appointment from Governor, speculation has gained ground that a change of guard in the three-year-old Karnataka government appears imminent.

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The move comes after a day the chief minister was understood to have been asked by the party high command to make way for his deputy DK Shivakumar’s elevation to the top post.

For at least three years, the Congress high command carefully balanced Siddaramaiah’s role as the Chief Minister and his deputy DK Shivakumar’s aspirations.

On a day he is likely to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, the 77-year-old veteran on Thursday will also host his cabinet colleagues, including Shivakumar, for breakfast.

Even on Tuesday, after a marathon meeting in New Delhi, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal downplayed the discussions as related to Rajya Sabha seat distribution. The Congress brass reportedly told Siddaramaiah that it was time to step aside and make way for Shivakumar as the CM.

As the political heat rises in the southern state in anticipation of a new CM, AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala clarified that the Congress has not called for a meeting of its legislature party in the state and that no other decision has been taken yet.

He requested the media not to speculate on the issue. The Legislature Party selects its leader, the obvious choice for CM. Surjewala, who arrived here on Wednesday, also met Siddaramaiah and other senior leaders.

The Congress brass also assured Siddaramaiah that he would not be sidelined as he steps down and would be offered a Rajya Sabha seat.