Bengaluru: Karnataka politics entered a dramatic new chapter this week as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly informed colleagues of his decision to step down, according to media reports.

At a breakfast meeting with ministers, the veteran leader is said to have conveyed that the Congress high command has proposed state party chief DK Shivakumar as his successor, NDTV reported.

The move comes just days after Siddaramaiah's government completed three years in office on May 20. Leadership rumblings have long dominated Karnataka's political landscape, intensifying after the administration crossed its halfway mark last November.

Sources told Indian Express that Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Thursday to formally submit his resignation. A Congress Legislature Party meeting is expected to follow on Friday or Saturday, where a new leader will likely be chosen.

At 77, Siddaramaiah is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka, having helmed the state for over eight years across two terms. His exit sets the stage for a high-stakes transition in the ruling Congress party.