Siddaramaiah to resign at 3 pm, DK Shivakumar to become Karnataka CM: Minister HK Patil

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is greeted by Deputy CM DK Shivakumar during a breakfast meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday. PIC/PTI

Karnataka Minister HK Patil on Thursday confirmed that Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah will resign at 3 pm and that Deputy CM DK Shivakumar will take over the CM's post following a key breakfast meeting held in Bengaluru.

"Chief Minister will resign at 3 o'clock. CM Siddaramaiah said that we will make DK Shivakumar the new CM, he will become the CM," HK Patil told reporters after the meeting at Siddaramaiah's official residence ‘Kaveri'.

There is also an indication that outgoing CM Siddaramaiah may travel to Delhi to seek a final nod on the selection for the post of deputy CM, news agency ANI reported. The crucial meeting came amid intense speculation over a leadership transition in the Karnataka Congress government, which recently completed three years in office.

Sources said that during the breakfast meeting, Siddaramaiah cited the state's financial condition, challenges in implementing the government's guarantee schemes and the need to continue welfare programmes while announcing his decision before his cabinet colleagues, news agency IANS reported. Ministers reportedly expressed their consent and support following the announcement.

During the breakfast meeting, DK Shivakumar touched Siddaramaiah's feet in a gesture viewed as symbolic of the expected transition. The two leaders also shared a warm embrace in front of party leaders and ministers gathered at the residence.

Several senior Karnataka ministers, including Priyank Kharge, KJ George, MB Patil, Ramalinga Reddy and HK Patil, attended the meeting amid tight security arrangements outside the venue. Meanwhile, DK Suresh, former MP and brother of DK Shivakumar, arrived at Shivakumar's residence in Bengaluru amid growing political activity and celebrations by supporters outside the house.

Supporters celebrate outside Shivakumar's Bengaluru residence

Supporters of Shivakumar celebrated outside his Bengaluru residence by distributing sweets in anticipation of him becoming the next Chief Minister. In Kalaburagi, members of the Indian Youth Congress performed a special puja at the Shri Sharana Basaveshwara Temple, demanding that Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge be appointed Deputy Chief Minister if Shivakumar takes over the top post.

The Congress leadership has repeatedly described reports of leadership change as speculation. However, political activity intensified after Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar recently met senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi.

(With ANI inputs)