DK Shivkumar elected as the leader of CLP of Karnataka

BY: Webdunia News Team

Publish: Sun, 31 May 2026 (15:53 IST) Updated: Sun, 31 May 2026 (15:53 IST)

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Karnataka took a decisive political turn on Saturday after outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah formally proposed the name of DK Shivakumar as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, effectively setting in motion a leadership transition in the state.

The high-stakes meeting, held at Vidhana Soudha, was convened to elect the CLP leader and finalise the next Chief Minister. Proceedings were briefly suspended after Shivakumar’s name was moved, before resuming later amid intense deliberations within the party.

The development marks the most significant step yet in the long-anticipated leadership change within the Karnataka Congress, coming just days after Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister following directions from the party high command, saying his resignation was voluntary.

Even as the transition process gained momentum, political activity outside the formal meeting underscored rising internal churn within the ruling party. Siddaramaiah, who has remained politically active after his resignation, was seen continuing public interactions at his residence, even as succession talks unfolded inside Vidhana Soudha.

Behind the formal proceedings, the transition has triggered parallel negotiations over the structure of the new government.

Party insiders indicated that Siddaramaiah had proposed a broader coordination mechanism linking the Congress organisation and the state government, modelled loosely on advisory structures seen in other states.

However, leaders aligned with Shivakumar are understood to have resisted the idea, wary of creating parallel centres of authority in the new dispensation. The proposal is yet to receive approval from the party leadership.

Further discussions held yesterday reportedly focused on Siddaramaiah’s future role and the architecture of the incoming cabinet. An initial plan to appoint him as chairman of a coordination committee for the government’s guarantee schemes was discussed, but he is said to have pushed for a wider institutional role.

The negotiations have also extended to cabinet composition under a Shivakumar-led government, with the Congress reportedly weighing the appointment of two Deputy Chief Ministers. Senior leader Satish Jarkiholi is among those being considered, although no final confirmation has emerged.

At the same time, speculation is growing over the role of Yathindra Siddaramaiah, with party insiders indicating he is likely to be inducted into the cabinet and may be assigned a key portfolio such as Social Welfare, though final decisions remain pending.

Meanwhile, the transition process has sparked political ripples outside the party structure as well. Dalit organisations staged a protest at Kempegowda International Airport on Saturday, demanding that former minister KH Muniyappa be made Deputy Chief Minister. The delegation also submitted a memorandum to AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala.

After Shivakumar’s formal elevation as leader was announced, paving the way for him to take over as Chief Minister of Karnataka, the political suspense, however, continued to linger over the final shape of the new government.