New Delhi: Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Friday accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru and dissolved the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, a day after the Congress leader resigned following instructions from the party high command. However, according to an official order issued from Lok Bhavan, Siddaramaiah will continue in the post until alternative arrangements are made.“In exercise of the powers conferred on me under Article 164(1) of the Constitution of India, I, Thawarchand GehlotThe Governor of Karnataka has accepted the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and dissolved the Council of Ministers headed by him with immediate effect. The official order states that Siddaramaiah will continue to function as Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are made.This step has cleared the way for change of leadership in the state. karnataka congress chairman DK Shivakumar The Congress leadership, expected to take over the chief ministerial post, has intensified discussions in Delhi, where Shivakumar is scheduled to meet Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge to finalize the government formation, including the cabinet composition and organizational appointments.Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala will be involved in the main discussion in which decisions on Cabinet reshuffle, Rajya Sabha nominations and MLC candidates are expected, ANI quoted sources as saying. Party insiders suggested that many ministers from the outgoing Siddaramaiah cabinet may not be retained in the new government.To ensure social and regional balance, the Congress is also considering the appointment of four deputy chief ministers. Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra, currently a member of the Legislative Council, is likely to be included in the new Cabinet and may be given an important portfolio to signal the continuation of his father’s political legacy.The Congress Legislature Party meeting, largely seen as a procedural step, is expected to be scheduled shortly, after which the date for Shivakumar’s swearing-in ceremony will be announced.Shivkumar reached New Delhi late Thursday night and briefly addressed reporters, saying, “The weather is bad today.” My CM has landed in Jaipur. There is a lot of unrest.”Earlier, Siddaramaiah’s Delhi flight was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather, where he along with Randeep Surjewala met former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. In a post on Twitter, Siddaramaiah said, “Had a warm meeting with former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot at Jaipur airport today.”According to party sources, the political reshuffle also comes ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, where the Congress is expected to get two of the four seats from Karnataka and is in contention for the third seat, which requires additional support.