Siddaramaiah Meets Sonia & Rahul Gandhi In Delhi As Karnataka Cong Power Transition Intensifies

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]Siddaramaiah has finally arrived at Sonia Gandhi's house 10 Janpath for his meeting that scheduled with both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Remember earlier the resignation was accepted, his resignation was accepted by the governor last of Karnataka that is last night itself [music] and now the action is all shifted to the national capital in Delhi. Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi meeting is underway in Delhi. It's a crucial meeting while in parallel we see DK Shivakumar meeting KC Venugopal several meetings taking place while for DK Shivakumar the concern right now is who shall be a part of his cabinet which how shall he balance the power equation out with ample representation from each and every community especially the OBC given that Siddaramaiah [music] the leader that he succeed succeeding is an OBC champion himself. He's an OBC representative and leader himself. So that will be very crucial and that's what his focal point will be during these meetings in the national capital.

[00:00:56]If we speak of Siddaramaiah that's on a very different tangent. The meetings that are taking place because for Siddaramaiah it is more of what the Congress high command has now requested him to take up than his own [music] demands. While yes Siddaramaiah himself is putting his demands that his loyalists and his son should be given crucial positions in DKS's cabinet in the government under DKS under DK Shivakumar that is and a lot of that has already been confirmed because several of these cabinet ministers are already in Delhi alongside DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. The main concern for the Congress party right now is a veteran like Siddaramaiah what's next for him.

[00:01:33]He's already been offered a Rajya Sabha seat. He's already been offered a national role in the Congress party as as a as a representative of the OBC remember because Rahul Gandhi has taken up this camp social justice campaign which [music] shall mostly be his focus for 2029 as he's already readied the pitch for the for the Lok Sabha elections of 2029. [music] So Siddaramaiah would play a very crucial role in that campaign. But And that's the request that they've met made to the veteran leader himself. When we speak of what role shall Siddaramaiah be taking up next? But Siddaramaiah is not happy with that role. He yesterday got very emotional when he was resigning when he announced his resignation speaking of how he was asked to step down by the high command. And as he has always followed what the high command has said, he shall do so this time. And that's what he proceeded to do. Remember, he's a He's a Gandhi loyalist at the end of the day. He's been with Sonia Gandhi for ages now.

[00:02:29]He's been one of the longest serving Chief Ministers of Karnataka, the state of Karnataka itself. And has been very, very crucial has played a very crucial role in consolidating the OBC community for garnering their support for the Congress in the state of Karnataka. And that is the influence and that is the role that he's placed played for the Karnataka Congress which now the high command of of the Congress party want him to play at a central level given the elections that are coming up in 2029. But that he's still not agreed to. Well, whether these meetings change his mind or not, that is something we are keeping a very close watch on. Rahul Gautam joins me on the broadcast with more details on the same. Rahul, well, the meetings have begun in the national capital. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi meeting Siddaramaiah.

[00:03:17]All eyes on what Siddaramaiah decides for himself next. Whether he will He's He's already said no to that Rajya Sabha seat. But whether he does decide to finally step out of Karnataka and take up that central role in the party is something all eyes will be on.

[00:03:33]>> Well, you know, that's the question which is there in everybody's mind that whether Siddaramaiah is going to come to the national capital.

[00:03:42]Will he accept the Rajya Sabha seat offer?

[00:03:45]And or you know, will he stick only to Karnataka? See, we have to understand that Congress party clearly knows that if at all Siddaramaiah is going to stay in Bangalore as an ordinary MLA, it will reflect Congress party in a very poor taste. So, therefore, they would want you know, Siddaramaiah to come to the national capital, take Rajya Sabha seat, play a bigger role. Remember, Siddaramaiah has always been hailed as a big Ahinda leader, a leader of SC, ST, OBC communities, and therefore, party would not try party would not want to send a signal that such a senior leader is being marginalized or being sidelined.

[00:04:23]Therefore, that's something which Congress party cannot afford at this point of time given the fact that there is there are still 2 years pending you know, for the next assembly election. So, therefore, they they would do everything to convince Siddaramaiah to take Rajya Sabha seat, play a bigger role in national politics.

[00:04:40]We've been informed from our sources that he'll be projected as a big OBC face of the Congress party all across the country given the fact that he is now the longest serving Chief Minister of Karnataka. So, as far as this meeting is concerned, there are lot many things on the table.

[00:04:55]Obviously, they're going to be discussions on Rajya Sabha seat for Siddaramaiah. Party would try to convince him. Then, obviously, Siddaramaiah would want that his loyalists or his supporters are being accommodated in the in the cabinet given the fact that as many as 10 cabinet ministers outgoing cabinet ministers are here in the national capital. They're camping.

[00:05:19]Remember, when last time also Siddaramaiah came, they came along with him. So, obviously, he would want that these people you know, get accommodated or adjusted in the cabinet. Also, we've been informed that the two the three Rajya Sabha seat MLC elections, everything is going to be discussed. And And one thing is very important.

[00:05:39]We've been informed from our sources that Siddaramaiah will also be pushing for his caste census report are be implemented. He would want that you know the the guarantee schemes, policies that that that were initiated by his government are being you know are carried forward by by the new government. So you know there are lot many things on the table as far as this meeting is concerned. Expect that this is going to be be a very crucial meeting given the fact that it is actually going to decide the fate of new government. It's going to decide the fate of Congress in the state of Karnataka and would obviously decide you know fate of lot many cabinet ministers and senior leaders of Congress of Karnataka Congress.

[00:06:21]>> You know Rahul, the the relationship that Siddaramaiah shares with Sonia Gandhi as well and which is probably why this meeting has been planned at her residence to to you know to meet out that that very respect for Siddaramaiah and and the role he's played so far in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah himself is a is a Gandhi loyalist. He's he's always accepted whatever has been asked of him by the Gandhi family. So this is going to be very crucial what the meeting holds. But Rahul, if you can hear me, I would also want you to throw some light on what's happening on parallel. While Siddaramaiah meets the Gandhis, D.K.

[00:06:56]Shivakumar is meeting K.C. Venugopal to to finally decide upon what happens and how the power balance is to be struck out within the cabinet. That also is a is quite a challenge at this given point for the leader who is to take up the top job in Karnataka.

[00:07:17]We'll get that connection back with Rahul, but yes, this is what we are discussing since morning. This is the action briefly having shifted to the national capital to to finally chart out the courses for either of these leaders. What happens to Siddaramaiah next after he's let go of his chief ministerial post and while he's resigned from it, while what happens to the D.K. Shivakumar cabinet as he gears up for this for this new role. Remember a long wait that comes to an end for D.K. Shivakumar.

[00:07:49]While he is an able organizer within the party itself and he's proven his worth uh across elections, especially the last one in 2023 in the state of Karnataka, but a cabinet with representations from different communities and one that takes power in the middle of a term for the government there is indeed a tricky situation to be in. So, how does he How does he wade those very waters? That is something we're all waiting to look at. What portfolio is given to which leader? That will be where all eyes are on. But,