BENGALURU: Barring a last-minute surprise, chief minister Siddaramaiah is set to resign Thursday, ending a political journey that saw him serve more than eight years and 12 days as Karnataka chief minister across two terms, surpassing the record of his mentor and backward class champion D Devaraj Urs. A senior official at Karnataka Lok Bhavan confirmed that Siddaramaiah had sought time to meet governor Thaawarchand Gehlot Thursday afternoon.The move is expected to clear the decks for deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar to take over as the next chief minister after nearly three years of internal power tussle, though the party remained officially silent on his elevation.However, sources said Siddaramaiah is learnt to be pushing for a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting with the party high command to elect his successor, a move seen by party insiders as an attempt to block Shivakumar’s path to the top post. Siddaramaiah’s camp believes a formal CLP election could throw up home minister G Parameshwara as a consensus candidate, especially with sections of MLAs expected to back the senior Dalit leader. Such a development would not only stall Shivakumar’s elevation but also allow Siddaramaiah to claim political credit for facilitating Karnataka’s first Dalit CM from the Congress. Congress insiders familiar with the developments said Siddaramaiah agreed to step down after directions from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whom the veteran leader credits for backing him to become CM twice despite being viewed as an outsider within the party structure. Siddaramaiah had repeatedly maintained that he would make way for a new face if Rahul asked him to do so.Senior Congress MLA and administrative reforms commission chairperson RV Deshpande said Siddaramaiah confirmed the decision during a meeting at the CM’s residence. According to Deshpande, several ministers and legislators urged Siddaramaiah not to resign, but the CM told them he had given his word to the party high command and would honour it.Though Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have offered Siddaramaiah a Rajya Sabha berth and a larger national role, the 77-year-old leader is reportedly not keen to shift to Delhi politics. With June 8 being the last date for Rajya Sabha nominations, the Congress leadership is expected to continue persuading him.Before submitting his resignation, Siddaramaiah will host a breakfast for cabinet colleagues Thursday morning and later address a press conference. Shivakumar, who returned to Bengaluru late Wednesday, is expected to attend the breakfast.The leadership transition gathered pace after marathon discussions in Delhi on Wednesday involving Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Siddaramaiah. Sources said the Shivakumar camp intensified pressure for a leadership change, prompting the high command to explore a national role for Siddaramaiah.The CM remained guarded Wednesday when asked about the developments. “I will speak everything tomorrow,” Siddaramaiah said after paying floral tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru at Vidhana Soudha on the former prime minister’s death anniversary.Home minister G Parameshwara and PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi said clarity would emerge only after an official announcement.Meanwhile, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala arrived in Bengaluru Wednesday evening to oversee the transition process. Surjewala said the Congress had not yet called a legislature party meeting and that “no other decision has been taken yet.”
