Siddaramaiah is scheduled to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over breakfast in New Delhi on May 29, 2026, a day after resigning as Karnataka Chief Minister. The meeting is expected to focus on Siddaramaiah’s future role, possible Rajya Sabha offer and the leadership transition as D.K. Shivakumar emerges as the likely successor.
Siddaramaiah is set to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over breakfast in New Delhi on Friday, a day after stepping down as Karnataka Chief Minister. The meeting is expected to be politically significant as the Congress high command works through the next phase of Karnataka’s leadership transition. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is widely expected to emerge as the next Chief Minister, but Siddaramaiah’s future role remains one of the biggest questions before the party. Shortly after his resignation, but the trip was delayed after bad weather forced his chartered flight to divert to Jaipur. He met former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot there before the meeting with Rahul Gandhi was rescheduled to 9 am on Friday.
The Congress leadership is likely to discuss whether Siddaramaiah should continue to remain active in Karnataka politics or move into a national role. According to the report, one possibility being discussed is a Rajya Sabha seat for Siddaramaiah, which could allow Congress to project him as a strong OBC face ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. However, Siddaramaiah has already indicated that he wants to remain in state politics, saying that the people elected him for five years and that two years are still left in the Assembly term. This makes the Delhi meeting important because the Congress high command may try to persuade him, while Siddaramaiah may push to retain influence in Karnataka.
Why The Rahul Gandhi Meeting Matters
The meeting with Rahul Gandhi is not just a courtesy call after resignation. It could decide Siddaramaiah’s political positioning after leaving the Chief Minister’s chair. For Congress, the challenge is delicate. Siddaramaiah has a strong voter base, especially among backward classes, minorities and welfare-focused groups. Moving him completely out of Karnataka politics could upset his supporters and create avoidable tension inside the party. At the same time, allowing him to remain too powerful in the state may make it harder for D.K. Shivakumar to function smoothly as the next Chief Minister.
This is where Congress must balance respect, power and practicality. Siddaramaiah cannot be treated like a retired leader because he still has political weight. But Shivakumar also cannot be made Chief Minister without enough freedom to build his own team. That is the real issue behind the Delhi talks. The party needs Siddaramaiah’s cooperation for a smooth transition, but it also needs clarity on cabinet formation, Deputy Chief Minister choices and the future command structure in Karnataka.
Reports also suggest that Siddaramaiah is expected to meet other senior Congress leaders before returning to Bengaluru. After returning, he is expected to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who was earlier unavailable when the resignation was submitted. The Governor has since accepted Siddaramaiah’s resignation and dissolved the Council of Ministers, while asking him to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are made. This means Karnataka is now officially in a transition phase, but the new government formation process is still pending.
What Happens Next In Karnataka
The next major step will be the Congress Legislature Party meeting, where the new leader is expected to be formally elected. D.K. Shivakumar is seen as the frontrunner to take over as Chief Minister, but the party has to manage the process carefully. The timing of the swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet list, the Deputy Chief Minister post and the distribution of key portfolios are all likely to be discussed by central leaders before a final announcement.
The transition is politically sensitive because Karnataka is one of the Congress party’s most important states. Siddaramaiah served as Chief Minister for three years before resigning, leaving two years in the current term. Shivakumar, if confirmed as Chief Minister, will inherit both opportunity and pressure. He will need to prove that the leadership change will not slow down governance or weaken the party’s social coalition. He will also need to keep Siddaramaiah loyalists comfortable while giving his own camp enough representation in the new administration.
The opposition is expected to watch closely for signs of friction. Any delay, protest or confusion could be used to attack Congress over internal instability. On the other hand, if Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and the high command project unity, Congress can turn the transition into a controlled handover rather than a power struggle. The breakfast meeting with Rahul Gandhi may therefore become one of the key moments in deciding how smooth or difficult Karnataka’s next political chapter will be.
For Siddaramaiah, the choice is clear but complicated. He has publicly said he wants to remain in Karnataka politics. For Congress, the decision is harder. The party must decide whether his future value is greater in the state, where he remains a mass leader, or in national politics, where he could be projected as an experienced OBC face. Either way, his role after resignation will matter as much as the identity of the next Chief Minister.
