Karnataka Leadership Change: Congress Pushes Siddaramaiah For National Role After CM Resignation

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]Is it Siddaramaiah now stepping down and the action now shifting from Karnataka to Delhi at this given [music] point?

[00:00:07]Siddaramaiah is to meet Rahul Gandhi shortly. In fact, Siddaramaiah's special flight has been diverted to Jaipur [music] last night. Siddaramaiah's son and Surjewala all accompany him. High command pushes Siddaramaiah for the national role. The special flight carrying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has landed [music] in Jaipur instead of Delhi due to the adverse weather conditions last evening in the national capital region. Karnataka in charge and Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ministers K.J. George, Byrathi Suresh, legal advisor Ponnanna, Siddaramaiah's MLC son Yathindra, and Congress Secretary Abhishek Dutt were all in that very flight [music] as per the statement issued by the Chief Minister's office. Now, Rahul Gautam joining me on the broadcast with more details on [music] the same on what we expect of this very meeting that is to take place.

[00:00:58]Rahul, a very good morning to you. It's It's It's >> [music] >> It's yet another action-packed day for these Karnataka ministers and leaders, but more importantly the action now shifts to Delhi itself. But, the question that still remains is now that Siddaramaiah has uh rejected the Rajya Sabha seat and the fact that Congress still is pushing him for a national role, how is that going to play out next?

[00:01:28]>> Well, that's why uh you know, Rahul Gandhi had decided to take you know, things in in in his own hand and uh now on around 9:00 a.m.

[00:01:38]Siddaramaiah will be meeting the Rahul Gandhi one-on-one at his residence. You rightly pointed out that Siddaramaiah is still non-committal uh to a Rajya Sabha seat and he uh he's not keen to uh come down to the national capital, but Congress party is still insisting that he should take up a bigger role in the national capital.

[00:01:59]He should look beyond Karnataka and and for the same reason at around 9:00 a.m. uh the two leaders, Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi, they'll be meeting. Uh see, we have to understand that Congress party uh uh uh clearly believes that if Siddaramaiah is going to stay uh in Bengaluru uh like an an ordinary MLA it won't look good on the part of Congress uh leadership and that's why they want him to come to the national capital, take up a bigger role, become a OBC face for the party so that party can propagate uh you know, it's uh you know, ideology in a more better way. So, therefore, you can expect that uh uh it's going to be a action-packed day as far as uh you know, Delhi's concerned, Congress is concerned because because of the fact that both Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar in the national capital uh expect that after Siddaramaiah uh D.K. Shivakumar will also be meeting the senior leadership and expect uh that the the the new government formation will also be taking place uh in coming days uh following these meetings.

[00:03:05]>> Right, Rahul. Thank you for setting context to what we are expecting from this day's meeting itself in the national capital. On that note, viewers, let's quickly take you through all that's happened so far into this very story [music] since yesterday after Siddaramaiah stepped down from his chief ministerial role just hours after stepping down as the Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah uh who's on a key visit to the national capital. The veteran leader is scheduled to meet Rahul Gandhi one-on-one at 9:00 a.m. with separate meetings also likely with Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge at 10 Janpath. Significantly uh the visit comes just hours after Siddaramaiah publicly rejected the Congress leadership's push for a national role saying that he wants to continue working in the state of Karnataka itself. But India today remember has now learned that the Congress high command is unlikely to give up that easily. Sources say Siddaramaiah was earlier offered a Rajya Sabha birth along with a [music] bigger organizational role ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The leadership is expected to once again urge him to take up that national responsibility. The Congress sees Siddaramaiah as one of its strongest OBC faces nationally among us leader with deep grassroots connect and political face of Karnataka's caste census push now central to Rahul Gandhi's social justice campaign.

[00:04:52]>> [snorts] >> I will continue in active politics.

[00:05:06]So on that note, let's let's try and understand a little more in depth as to why is it that the Congress wants Siddaramaiah in Delhi at this given point. Why is it that the push comes in for this central organizational [music] role to be taken up by Siddaramaiah after he's now stepped down from his chief ministerial post. Number one, Congress sees Siddaramaiah as a key OBC face as he has served the party and uh we have seen the campaigns [music] that he's led in the state of Karnataka as the face of the OBC. He's known to be a social justice leader. So he is belongs to that community and he is a very strong face when it comes to the OBC.

[00:05:45]The uh and on that note, number two, if we look at Siddaramaiah's Congress' strongest mass leader in South. If we look at all the Southern states, somewhere down the line, every election that's taken place, both Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar have led campaigns in each of these respective states because that is the power that Siddaramaiah holds. He's a He's a He is a veteran in the Congress party himself and holds a legacy to his name, which is what comes into be very important. Now, Siddaramaiah is projected as caste census champion at the same time, which is again one of the bold moves that he played a long before leaving his role of Chief Ministerial [music] Chief Minister's chair, that is, in Karnataka, which is accepting that caste census report.

[00:06:35][music] He has always been a caste census champion and he's projected as one even now. Number four, rebrand the move as elevation and not demotion. A A leader of his stature and his legacy doesn't just die out like that. It is not a demotion after the high command ordered him to step down from his post, but an elevation given [music] that he's being integrated and assimilated into the central leadership role now at the national level itself. Number five, party wants to use Siddaramaiah's organizational [music] experience, which would come in to be very, very crucial, especially for the 2029 elections. Of course, Karnataka would be headed into an assem- state assembly polls before that itself, but that might that campaign might have D.K. Shivakumar as the [music] face of it from the Congress side, but more importantly, 2029 is also what the Congress is planning for [music] simultaneously beyond the state elections that are planned up for the next few years. Number six, Rahul Gandhi is keen to have Siddaramaiah in the national team. Again, experience [music] does come into play a very important role, especially when we speak of the sector of politics. So, which is why Rahul Gandhi and the high command both do not want to give away a leader like Siddaramaiah. They want him in the helm of affairs, even if it's at the national level now from moving away from [music] the state level.

[00:08:03]Now, while these are the reasons why the high command, including Congress, [music] does want Siddaramaiah doesn't want Siddaramaiah to in fact isolate them.

[00:08:11]What is it that Siddaramaiah wants?

[00:08:13]Siddaramaiah, as a leader, does not want to leave Karnataka at this given point.

[00:08:19]He wants to continue working [music] as a Congress leader inside the very state, within the very state. Number one, the reason being he's a strong He has a strong Andhra support base, again, which we were talking about earlier that the the the the community that he represents at this given point of time. Number two, [music] there are loyal voters bases across regions that he has. In fact, yesterday also, when he was stepping down from his chief ministerial role, we could see protests taking place in [music] pockets of Karnataka. There were MLAs within the cabinet, within his cabinet, and in general as well, even moving beyond the cabinet, who were really upset with this decision. They didn't want Siddaramaiah to step down. [music] So, be it within the party or even amongst the masses, he has a support base everywhere. There is a direct connect with the grassroot carder. That Siddaramaiah is known to be a mass leader in Karnataka, and it's not just the public that we're speaking of in terms of schemes or in terms of the way that he's projected himself as a leader, but also within the party, as we were mentioning that the cabinet leaders, there were MLAs There was an entire Siddaramaiah camp, of course, that we've spoken about time and again.

[00:09:32]All of them, including the last carder at the very at most grassroots level has a connect with Siddaramaiah. That is the kind of leader that he used to be and that's the kind of hold he has within the party in the state of Karnataka. Number four, again, assumes [music] greater power in the state than at center. So, Siddaramaiah's role in Karnataka or even the fact that the kind of support base he has, it is enjoyed in Karnataka. So, at the central level, that is something he will still have to set up and work toward in terms of the organization skill as well as the as [music] well as establish establishing that connect from a central position. Right now, he already enjoys and has that legacy back in his state, which is not just his state, but in South as a whole, there everybody in the Congress unit of respective southern states [music] knows Siddaramaiah and respects Siddaramaiah as a leader there, which is why that hold that he has down South. But, that will change a little when he takes up a central role given that he'll have to again establish that connect with the carders there from the central position.

[00:10:47]Again, number five, he wants a legacy secured in the state. Siddaramaiah, as we were mentioning, has held a long legacy and himself as a leader, he he could be seen emotional yesterday when he was stepping [music] down from that very role that he was bestowed with back in 2023.

[00:11:07]And which is why he's also pushed forward for his son to be included in the next cabinet, to have an important position in the next cabinet that will be formed under D.K. Shivakumar because it's a legacy in itself that's been running.

[00:11:19]Number six, strong emotional connect with the voters. Of course, one that we've already mentioned that uh Karnataka identifies with Siddaramaiah at the same time and not just this is not just the OBC community that we're talking about, but also in general there is a mass connect that Siddaramaiah holds in the state of Karnataka, which is why he doesn't want to leave the state so early.

[00:11:44]So, on that note, viewers, while this is what's been happening on the Siddaramaiah side of affairs, if we may call it so, let's take a look at how is it that the new leader and the new Chief Minister designate has been preparing for his term to begin.

[00:12:04]Karnataka's high-voltage CM drama is now in its final act. Just hours after the leadership transition, both Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar are in the national capital. D.K.

[00:12:14]Shivakumar will be meeting the party's top leadership today with a hectic discussions underway on the shape of new Karnataka cabinet. Sources say Siddaramaiah's son, Yatindra, could find a new place in the new power structure as D.K. Shivakumar prepares to finally take charge of Karnataka's uh top job at this point. Sources say May 31st, that is and June 1st and June 3rd are being considered as the possible dates for the oath-taking ceremony so far.

[00:13:09]>> Rajinamma and associate dinner.

[00:13:12]What do we do you have to do there?

[00:13:15]I make sorry you ready to do it.

[00:13:16]My name is Monday.

[00:13:19]What do we do today?

[00:13:21]I command no rule.

[00:13:28]You have a suit you start there.

[00:13:35]I will go.

[00:13:38]Ready now may not put the name to hear it there.

[00:13:42]I don't pick a lot.

[00:13:46]Monday.

[00:13:49]I command the rule.

[00:13:52]Ready now may.

[00:13:55]We do it to hear it there.

[00:13:59]No, no no need to ready now may not put the name to hear it there you will do.

[00:14:10]I got you what to ready now may not sell it to hear it there.

[00:14:14]>> So now I don't see him as So he gave his resignation to the governor's office. No governor was not there. He has given the resignation. The next CM will be elected.

[00:14:23]Well, I already have clarified that whatever he uh high command told and he has followed high command direction.

[00:14:29]>> Rahul Gandhi but OBC OBC OBC chief minister list to sit there chief minister Such good here. Such good here. Relevant ready to get here. Do we need to see we take me but I'm already out to get that money OBC such good here.

[00:14:54]Money out to get that good here.

[00:14:56]Such good such good here.

[00:14:59]But in case I would get money out to get that good I would just look at that good here. I would just look at that good I would just look at that good I would just look at that good here.

[00:15:05]>> Karnataka Congress party in India key which are that I got good method in here.

[00:15:17]Good method method good highest bidder would I get good name to tender good job that I get good such good here good night >> Well, on that note, let's also take you through while we were telling you about the different aspects involved in the Siddaramaiah equation right now. Let's take you through what exactly stands next for D.K. Shivakumar and and the political test that he would be facing at this given point as he takes over power in Karnataka as the Chief Minister. [music] Very firstly, one would have to see his trends when we speak of him as a leader and that for the gearing up for the top job in the state. Congress's top organizational leader in Karnataka who rebuilt the party as the KPCC chief.

[00:16:18]And he is a strong Vokkaliga base with networks known as Congress's crisis manager and is an experienced administrator at the same time. [music] So, this is all of the strengths that he enjoys wherein he is not just an experienced leader and administrator, but D.K. Shivakumar is known for his organizational [music] skills within the party. And in fact, if anything, in 2023 when the elections took place, his role was very crucial in terms of reorganizing the party and bringing everyone together under one umbrella to fight the very elections and secure a victory at the same time. On the other hand, however, let's also take a look at his weakness. There is ED and corruption charges that shadow his image. Again, aggressive style may fuel factionalism.

[00:17:10]That is again, his own personal style [music] of dealing with affairs within the party. There are comparisons that are drawn but and will be drawn more and more now that he takes over and succeeds [music] over Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister. There will be comparisons that are drawn between his welfare schemes and what Siddaramaiah had to offer. Then there is again limited reach in some of the Ahinda sections which comes [music] out to be very While he enjoys a very popular support base from the Vokkaliga community, when we speak of the Ahinda sections, [music] his reach is somewhat Again, opportunities that he has as a leader at this given point. There is a chance to [music] emerge as Congress's top face and one that would be expanding the Vokkaliga support base [music] at this given point. And this would be right ahead of elections which will take place 2 years later in the very state.

[00:18:04]So, it does give him enough time to secure [music] his own support base and maybe another victory in the state of Karnataka.

[00:18:11]Opportunity again to push Bengaluru model which has been his model for the longest time and the success may boost him as a national leader as well. The national profile [music] that he has, the portfolio as a leader, as a national leader will get a boost if he indeed is successful and uses this [music] as an opportunity to push himself forward. On the other hand, again, threats that may come in at this given point is the fact that Siddaramaiah [music] camp may continue the power balance. Yesterday, as we were mentioning earlier, the kind of supporters that Siddaramaiah enjoys even within the party itself, there might be a there might be a power balance that's struck because they will continue to speak up and in favor of Siddaramaiah.

[00:18:57]And which is also one of the reasons Siddaramaiah doesn't want to leave the very state of Karnataka.

[00:19:03]BJP is to target D. K. Shivakumar over corruption. As we said, there are several [music] cases that are still uh at this given point which he has earlier been held up for. Again, Bengaluru issues could [music] hurt his image at the same time because Bengaluru if we speak civic [music] issue-wise has been looking at several challenges. How he handles them would be looked at very, very closely by the public there. And then legal cases, of course, at the end [music] of the day remain to be a very big political risk because that's a loose end untied even for political leaders. And and the minute there is that that that case [music] that hangs over a political leader, there's always room for arm twisting or or even threats to [music] come in in the form of blackmail from other parties. So, there's a lot that goes about.

[00:19:56]There's a long road ahead for Shivakumar. He's proven himself as the able administrator, [music] one who has brought together the party uh right ahead of the elections and campaigned through all of it to secure the victory for the Congress. Whether he's equally capable a chief minister or not, an administrator or not, that is something we will be looking at. Now, on the other hand, let's also take a look at other political tests that [music] D.K. Shivakumar would have to be facing right at the helm of affairs, right as he begins his term as the chief minister. Number one would be and this is within the party [music] itself and also involves the the the mass level problems that he would be facing. What are the issues that he would be facing with his uh people in the state of Karnataka. Number one would be consolidating the Vokkaliga leadership base. Remember, he is the one who represents [music] and enjoys that support base, but Vokkaligas amongst themselves also. It's not an easy community with easy power structures within themselves. So, to consolidate all of them and bring them under one umbrella and ambit would be to uh D.K. Shivakumar at this given point time. Number two, again, would be the balance that he strikes [music] between Vokkaligas and Ahindas. Because remember, as we were mentioning, Siddaramaiah was one who enjoyed the support base from the Ahinda sections.

[00:21:20]And DK Shivkumar is one who enjoys the support base from the Vokkaliga faction that is. Now, both happen to be very crucial communities in Karnataka.

[00:21:31]So, striking a balance between the two and not favoring one over the other would be a very, very crucial task for DK Shivkumar at the same time. Again, managing the Lingayat community expectations at the same time also remains to be important. Then, managing Siddaramaiah camp loyalists, because they're still not convinced with DK Shivkumar [music] taking up the role from Siddaramaiah, succeeding Siddaramaiah at this given point. They still have to say that Siddaramaiah should have continued for the next 2 years in as the Chief Minister of this and the leader of this very cabinet. Number five, cabinet and portfolio distribution would be under major scrutiny. Who gets what? That would also be a big challenge with already Siddaramaiah having made demands for [music] not just his son, but also his his supporters, his loyalists within the party. He's asked for important positions. So, yes, a very crucial tests in front of DK Shiv- that lay in front of DK Shivkumar as he takes up his this new role.