Outgoing CM Siddaramaiah appointed as member of Congress Working Committee

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jun 3, 2026: A day before D.K. Shivakumar is set to take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister, his predecessor Siddaramaiah was on Tuesday appointed as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body.

Announcing the appointment, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had inducted Siddaramaiah into the CWC.

With Siddaramaiah’s inclusion, the CWC now has 37 members, in addition to Kharge. The committee also comprises 35 permanent invitees and 15 special invitees.

From Karnataka, Syed Naseer Hussain is also a member of the CWC, while B. K. Hariprasad and M. Veerappa Moily serve as permanent invitees.

The appointment came on a day when Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah held discussions with the Congress high command on the composition of the new Karnataka Cabinet. Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister last month, paving the way for Shivakumar’s elevation.

Party sources said Siddaramaiah’s induction into the CWC was widely expected, as the Congress leadership wanted to acknowledge the veteran leader’s contribution to the party and send a strong message about its continued support for the influential AHINDA leader.

The move is also seen as an attempt to counter criticism that the party removed its only OBC Chief Minister despite strongly advocating social justice. The Congress leadership had earlier offered Siddaramaiah a Rajya Sabha seat, but he reportedly declined, choosing to remain active in state politics.