In the wake of the tragic stampede in Bengaluru that resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have been summoned to Delhi by the Congress high command. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, aims to address the fallout from the incident and discuss the way forward.

The stampede occurred on June 4th during celebrations for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL team. A massive crowd had gathered outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, leading to a chaotic situation. The incident has drawn intense scrutiny on the state leadership, with opposition parties calling for the resignations of both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, holding them morally responsible for the tragedy.

According to sources within the Congress party, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal are expected to be present at the meeting. The central leaders are likely to seek an explanation from Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar regarding the events that led to the stampede and the measures taken in response.

The Congress high command is reportedly upset that the stampede has garnered national and international attention. There are concerns within the party about the potential damage to its image. Sources suggest that the central leadership questioned the two leaders about the "hurried celebrations" that seemed to have been organized without proper adherence to safety norms.

Following the tragedy, the state government has taken several actions, including suspending Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda and dismissing K. Govindaraju, MLC, from his position as political secretary to the Chief Minister. A one-man judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge John Michael D'Cunha has also been appointed to probe the incident, and the case has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Siddaramaiah has clarified that he does not have any connection with the cricket stadium and addressed allegations regarding police accountability, stating that multiple officials had faced action, not just the police commissioner.

DK Shivakumar was already in Delhi for a government program and is expected to extend his stay to attend the meeting with the Congress high command. Apart from addressing the stampede issue, the meeting may also involve discussions on finalizing the list of candidates for the four vacant MLC seats.

Furthermore, there is speculation that a cabinet reshuffle might be on the cards. Sources suggest that the Chief Minister may discuss the possibility of changing portfolios for some ministers and dropping a few altogether.