DK Shivakumar Hugs, Touches Siddaramaiah's Feet At 'Breakfast Meeting' Amid Leadership Change Buzz

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar arrived at CM Siddaramaiah's official residence 'Kaveri' in Bengaluru on Thursday for a "breakfast meeting" with key Congress leaders.

Upon arriving, the two leaders shared a hug and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar also touched the feet of CM Siddaramaiah to seek his blessings.

Priyank Kharge, KJ George, MB Patil, Ramalinga Reddy, and HK Patil are some of the leaders who are attending the meeting.

The Congress government in Karnataka has now completed three years in office, after earlier crossing the two-and-a-half-year mark last year, a milestone that first triggered debate on sharing power and the possible elevation of DK Shivakumar to the top post within the state unit.

Karnataka CM and Deputy CM, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, respectively, share a hug at the CM residence in Bengaluru at the breakfast meeting. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar also touched the feet of CM Siddaramaiah.

(Pics: CMO Karnataka) pic.twitter.com/qIATmAwj8a

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2026

Supporters of Karnataka Deputy CM and KPCC president DK Shivakumar distribute sweets and raise slogans in his support outside his residence, amid the speculations around CM post.

Speaking to ANI, A DK Shivakumar supporter said, "This is a very important day for us. DK Shivakumar has become the designated Chief Minister. For that, we are celebrating. It is going to happen by the grace of God. He has worked for the party for several years now. He has sacrificed his life for the Congress party. Just like the two eyes of humans, one eye is DK Shivakumar, and the other eye is Siddaramaiah...This celebration will go on for a week.

I congratulate the high command, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi ji and also Priyanka ji, as well as Randeep Surjewala and Abhishek Dutt, and KC Venugopal. It is a victory of DK Shivakumar."

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Supporters of Karnataka Deputy CM and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar distribute sweets and raise slogans in his support outside his residence, amid the speculations around CM post. pic.twitter.com/7OF4WnYJ5v

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2026

Karnataka leadership change and Congress high command talks

Amid these Karnataka leadership change discussions, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar travelled to the national capital on Tuesday, where they joined a meeting with Congress central leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, as well as senior organiser KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Officially, Congress leaders maintained that the Delhi discussions were limited to electoral planning, with KC Venugopal stating that candidates for the Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka would be declared together with nominees from other states, and that reports of a Karnataka leadership change remained within the realm of media speculation.

Karnataka leadership change signals and party sources

However, party sources claimed that the Congress leadership was leaning towards a Karnataka leadership change and had “apparently conveyed” to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to prepare to step aside, with another round of internal consultations expected before any final announcement on the role that DK Shivakumar might play next.

Outside Shivakumar’s residence, supporters distributed sweets earlier on Thursday, celebrating in advance the possibility of Shivakumar becoming the next Karnataka Chief Minister, even as official spokespersons continued to downplay suggestions of an imminent Karnataka leadership change within the ruling Congress government.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal later described the Delhi talks in detail, stressing that the leadership focused on elections despite the Karnataka leadership change chatter surrounding the meeting and the visible strain between competing expectations in the state unit over succession.

"Today, we had a detailed meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, general secretary incharge of Karnataka (Randeep Singh Surjewala), and I were part of the discussion. The entire discussion was concentrated only on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and Council Elections of Karnataka," Venugopal said.

Karnataka leadership change, resignation buzz and MLA claims

Amid growing Karnataka leadership change rumours, Congress MLA Ashok M Pattan suggested that Siddaramaiah could submit a resignation letter on Thursday, pointing out that Siddaramaiah had already taken an appointment with the Governor, though Pattan underlined that the final decision on succession rested with the central leadership.

Speaking to ANI, Pattan emphasised that the decision regarding the next Chief Minister will be taken by the High Command. "We went to the CM's house. I think CM may give his resignation tomorrow after 3 PM. He has already taken an appointment with the Governor. About the next CM, the high command will decide. Surjewala is here already. Most probably, DK Shivakumar will be the CM. Whatever the high command tells, they will obey," he said.

On Wednesday, Siddaramaiah responded to persistent Karnataka leadership change questions by stating that issues raised with the Congress high command would be addressed on Thursday, even as Ministers Priyank Kharge, KJ George, MB Patil, Ramalinga Reddy and HK Patil joined the breakfast meeting at 'Kaveri’ under tight security arrangements.

The Karnataka leadership change debate now centres on whether Siddaramaiah will step down after meeting the Governor and how quickly the Congress high command moves on any transition, with party leaders insisting that whatever decision emerges from Delhi will be accepted by both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.