"DK Shivakumar To Be Chief Minister If...": Siddaramaiah Leaves Decision To Congress

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met his deputy, DK Shivakumar, for a 'power breakfast' Tuesday, a meeting that under most other circumstances might seem normal. This meeting, though, was not.

The two Congress leaders - squabbling over the chief minister's post since the 2023 election - sat down to idli, a country-style chicken curry, and coffee (a splash of milk for the Chief Minister) and discussed their tug-of-war. But the outcome remains uncertain, particularly since Siddaramaiah pointed out the two spoke about the Karnataka Assembly session next week.

But - in perhaps the first clear admission that his time as Chief Minister may be drawing to an end - Siddaramaiah also indicated he is prepared to stand down, though only if told to by the Congress' top leaders. "Both of us will accept the decision taken by the party, especially Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge."

Meanwhile, soures said DKS made a genuine attempt to show respect to Siddaramaiah; his younger brother, DK Suresh, who last month spoke out against the Chief Minister, was seen bending down to touch his feet, a traditional show of respect.

Sources also said the two will now likely be summoned to Delhi, to meet those leaders on December 8. The plan, sources explained, is for the two to fly out from Belagavi – where the Karnataka Assembly is located – after the House is adjourned.

On paper they will be accompanied by Congress MPs from the state and it will be a trip to flag problems faced by Karnataka farmers and the management of the state's water resources. But backchannel talks are also on the agenda, NDTV was told.

Before that senior Congress leader KC Venugopal and they are expected to hold curtain-raiser talks in Mangaluru.

A face-to-face with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, it is understood, will be crucial in setting out a transition plan and break a deadlock that has rumbled on for nearly three years, threatening the stability of one of only three states the Congress controls on its own. The caveat, though, as it appears with most party matters, is that Rahul Gandhi will take the 'final decision'.

That might not be the best news for DKS' hopes of taking over as Chief Minister in the next six months because last week NDTV was told that Gandhi does not agree with a mid-term swap.

In any case, breakfast at DKS' home today was the second meeting in three days as the Congress tries to broker peace – again - long enough to focus on the 2028 election. And the party released another obligatory 'all is well' photo to signify unity.

Hosted the Hon'ble CM for breakfast at my residence today as we reaffirm our commitment to good governance and the continued development of our state under the Congress vision. pic.twitter.com/qmBxr50S64

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) December 2, 2025

"Hosted the Chief Minister for breakfast at my residence today as we reaffirm our commitment to good governance and the continued development of our state under the Congress vision," DKS said on X, with a photo of the two sitting side-by-side.

"We are 'one voice' in the Congress… there is no difference in party, it is only a creation of the media," he told reporters.

On Saturday they met at the Chief Minister's home. On the menu then was idli, upma, and kesari, and probably coffee too.

What was not, though, was an immediate end to their feud. Sources said the two spoke about a transition of power but could not agree on a date. DKS' camp wants it done quickly, possibly as early as April 2026, while the Chief Minister's side is understood to want to push it back as far as possible, even unto the end of the term.

Sources said Siddaramaiah's proposal was that he finish the term and then back DKS - his standing in the politically influential Ahinda community might make this an appealing prospect - in the 2028 election.

Should DKS accept that proposal, it could mean the Congress will unite two of the state's biggest vote banks - the dominant Vokkaliga caste that is already backing Shivakumar and the Ahinda community votes.

At the centre of this row is a deal that was allegedly struck after the Congress' surprise 2023 election win - that Siddaramaiah and DKS would share the five-year term, i.e., each would be chief minister for 2.5 years.

That halfway mark passed last month with no sign the former is ready to hand over power, prompting pressure tactics from the latter, including pointed remarks about keeping promises and a group of Congress lawmakers rushing to Delhi to persuade party boss Mallikarjun Kharge to force Siddaramaiah to stand down.

On Monday Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge seemed to (finally) put his foot down.

Sources said he called for that promise to be upheld, arguing "that word was given in my presence... and it should be honoured. Otherwise, I have no credibility in my own state".

This is the second time Mallikarjun Kharge has pushed the Congress to resolve this issue as quickly as possible; last week he called for a settlement before Parliament's winter session.

The opposition BJP, meanwhile, is playing a wait-and-watch game.

There has been talk of moving a no-confidence vote against the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah, but the BJP does not have the numbers, at this time, to worry the ruling party.