Amid growing speculation over a leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, widely expected to step down, hosted a breakfast meeting for his cabinet colleagues at his official residence on Thursday.
His current deputy and possible successor, D K Shivakumar and other cabinet colleagues attended the breakfast meeting.
Siddaramaiah is expected to make the announcement after the breakfast meeting, sources said.
Photos shared by the Chief Minister’s Office showed Siddaramaiah embracing Shivakumar. In another image, Shivakumar was seen seeking Siddaramaiah’s blessings by touching his feet.
Ministers including Priyank Kharge, KJ George, MB Patil, Ramalinga Reddy and HK Patil also attended the meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence under heightened security arrangements.
The meeting assumes significance as rumours of a change in leadership have once again gained momentum, despite repeated attempts by the Congress leadership to downplay such claims.
Discussions over a possible transition have periodically surfaced since the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its tenure in Karnataka.
The Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, had held several hours of discussions with Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, both jointly and separately in Delhi recently.
While some reports claim the Congress high command may be leaning towards a change and has conveyed its position to Siddaramaiah, the party has publicly rejected such suggestions.
Amid the ongoing buzz, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday indicated that matters discussed with the party leadership would be clarified on Thursday. He has also sought time to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Lok Bhavan at 3 pm on Thursday.
However, Lok Bhavan officials said on Thursday that Siddaramaiah has not yet sought time to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. This comes a day after top sources in the chief minister's office on Wednesday said Siddaramaiah has sought time to meet Gehlot today.
Lok Bhavan officials said that Gehlot is in his home town, Indore, in Madhya Pradesh. When asked whether the chief minister has sought time to meet Gehlot, a top Lok Bhavan official said, "His Excellency is not here. There is no such information. As of now, there is no such message or information".
According to him, once the Governor arrives, Siddaramaiah will have to meet him.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Federation of Backward Class Communities warned the Congress and its high command that the party will face consequences if Siddaramaiah is replaced.
Asserting that Congress came to power because of the support of backward class and AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) communities, federation leaders said there is no other leader of Siddaramaiah's stature in the Congress party, and warned of agitation if he is made to step down.
Shivakumar camp was jubilant, and his supporters broke into celebrations on Wednesday in many parts of the state, including Bengaluru and Ramanagara, amid reports that their leader was all set to become the next CM.
Supporters of Siddaramaiah gathered outside his official residence, protesting amid intense speculation that he might step down.
(With inputs from ANI)