The political landscape in Karnataka underwent a decisive shift on Friday as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot formally accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The development comes a day after the veteran leader submitted his papers to Raj Bhavan, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to assume the top post.

An official notification issued by Raj Bhavan confirmed that the Governor has dissolved the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. However, in line with constitutional protocol, Siddaramaiah has been directed to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until the next administration is formally sworn in, which sources indicate is likely to take place early next week.

High-Stakes Delhi Meetings Begin

Following the dramatic series of events in Bengaluru, both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar flew to New Delhi to finalise the modalities of the transition. Despite their flight being temporarily diverted to Jaipur on Thursday evening due to adverse weather conditions, both leaders arrived safely and are scheduled to hold critical consultations at 10 Janpath.

The meetings with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal are expected to iron out the fine print of the new cabinet formation. Senior party sources privy to the discussions noted that the Congress central leadership is working on a formula to accommodate various factional interests and maintain structural stability in the home state of the party president.

Formula for Multiple Deputy CMs

To address potential regional and caste imbalances resulting from the top-level exit, the Congress high command is contemplating a significant restructuring of the state executive. Highly placed sources indicated that the party may appoint up to four Deputy Chief Ministers to ensure representation across dominant community groupings and regional pockets.

"The party is looking at a balanced approach to ensure that no major community feels alienated after this transition," a senior state leader said on condition of anonymity.

Among the frontrunners for the newly proposed structural tiers is Cabinet Minister Priyank Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Demands have already emerged from various youth wings and local party units in regions like Kalaburagi to elevate him to a deputy position to represent the Kalyana-Karnataka belt. Concurrently, names from Siddaramaiah’s camp are being discussed for prominent cabinet positions to avoid the creation of alternative power centres.

The Final Breakfast Meeting

The final hours of the Siddaramaiah ministry were marked by highly visible displays of internal solidarity, contrasting with the intense three-year power struggle that preceded the move. On Thursday morning, DK Shivakumar arrived at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Bengaluru for a breakfast meeting with senior cabinet colleagues.

Timeline of the Three-Day Transition:

• May 26: High command summons both leaders to New Delhi for extensive consultations.

• May 27: Siddaramaiah hints at an imminent announcement following brief resistance.

• May 28: Breakfast meeting held; resignation submitted to Raj Bhavan's Special Secretary.

• May 29: Governor Gehlot returns to Bengaluru and formally accepts the resignation.

Visuals from the residence showed Shivakumar touching the veteran leader's feet to seek his blessings, followed by an emotional embrace between the two leaders before they sat down for breakfast. Shortly after the briefing, Siddaramaiah drove down to Lok Bhavan to hand over his resignation to the Governor’s Special Secretary, Prabhu Shankar, as Governor Gehlot was away on a personal visit to Madhya Pradesh at the time.

Contesting the Anti-Incumbency Narrative

At a packed press conference following his resignation, the 77-year-old outgoing leader clarified his future political trajectory, ending speculation about a move to national politics. Siddaramaiah confirmed that the party leadership had offered him a Rajya Sabha ticket, which he declined in order to remain rooted in state-level politics.

The decision by the AICC to enforce a mid-term leadership transition is widely seen as a strategic measure to counter local anti-incumbency ahead of future electoral cycles. The state administration has also had to navigate challenging political waters over the past year, including opposition attacks over alleged financial irregularities in the Valmiki Development Corporation, which central party strategists felt required a decisive administrative reboot to secure the state unit's long-term stability.