BREAKFAST POLITICS TO POWER CHANGE!

Finally, Siddaramaiah agreed and stepped down from the Karnataka Chief Minister’s post. This time, he could no longer avoid the power-sharing formula for the CM chair, especially since the directive reportedly came from the party high command. Supporters of Siddaramaiah had even staged protests urging him not to resign. However, after nearly seven hours of marathon meetings in Delhi, Siddaramaiah reportedly agreed to step down following discussions with Rahul Gandhi.

Amid the Karnataka power crisis, Siddaramaiah announced during a cabinet meeting this morning that he would resign. He also hinted that D. K. Shivakumar would become the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. Shivakumar was seen touching Siddaramaiah’s feet to seek blessings. During a breakfast meeting held at Siddaramaiah’s residence today, the two leaders embraced each other. Earlier too, “breakfast politics” had become a talking point in Karnataka’s CM power tussle. The struggle over the Chief Minister’s post had been going on for a long time. Finally, the issue appears to have been resolved in Delhi. The government in the state was reportedly formed on the basis of a power-sharing formula. Under the arrangement, Siddaramaiah would serve as Chief Minister for the first two-and-a-half years of the five-year term, while Shivakumar would take over for the remaining period. Shivakumar had repeatedly raised this demand. His supporters had camped in Delhi several times, holding discussions with the Congress leadership, but no solution had emerged until now. Despite Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot being away from the state, Siddaramaiah reportedly visited Raj Bhavan this afternoon and submitted his resignation. May 13, 2023 — Congress won 135 seats in Karnataka and came to power. On May 18, 2023, the party’s top leadership held meetings with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar regarding the CM post. During those discussions, the rotational Chief Minister formula — with each leader serving for two-and-a-half years — was reportedly finalized. Shivakumar wanted to serve the first term as CM, but due to seniority, Siddaramaiah was chosen to lead the government initially. Shivakumar agreed to become Deputy Chief Minister under that arrangement. Siddaramaiah has now served for more than two-and-a-half years, while the Congress government in Karnataka has completed three years in office.