Siddaramaiah told to step down as Karnataka CM, Congress offers Rajya Sabha seat as consolation: Sources

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly been asked by the Congress leadership to step down from his post, according to sources, adding another twist to the shake-up which the state government has been embroiled in from time to time, with factions supporting DK Shivakumar's elevation to the CM post.

Sources said Siddaramaiah was told by the party high command on Tuesday to consider the matter and convey his decision to Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. A resignation could take place within the next few days, sources added.

However, Siddaramaiah is reportedly not interested in moving to the Rajya



Sabha.

Earlier, sources had said Rahul Gandhi suggested that Siddaramaiah consider contesting the Rajya Sabha elections. The Karnataka chief minister reportedly responded that he had no ambition to enter national politics and sought time to think over the proposal.

Now with the Rajya Sabha poll scheduled for June 8, the resignation is expected to happen before that, sources added.

The Congress, which held a marathon six-hour meeting earlier in the day, maintained that the discussions were centred only on the Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka and cautioned against speculations, but reports came pouring in on key talks held about the state government.