Preparations for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s programme scheduled at Allama Prabhu Park in Shivamogga on June 1 have been put on hold by the district administration, following the political uncertainty surrounding a possible leadership change in the Congress government.

The event had been planned as a high-profile occasion, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and several cabinet ministers — including School Education Minister and Shivamogga in-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa — scheduled to attend. The programme was to mark the inauguration of Karnataka Public Schools, along with the launch of various other development works.

Preparations had been well underway. Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti had held coordination meetings with heads of several departments. The School Education Department had made arrangements to invite students who had scored above 600 out of 625 in the SSLC examinations, along with representatives of schools and colleges that had recorded 100 per cent results in the SSLC and II PU examinations. The Chief Minister had also been scheduled to have lunch with the students. Information had already been conveyed to the concerned students and institutions, and work on erecting the stage and pandal had commenced. However, reports of an imminent change in Congress leadership in the State brought the preparations to an abrupt halt.

Minister Madhu Bangarappa, who was in Shivamogga on Tuesday, said he would take a call on the programme after returning to Bengaluru. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has since convened a breakfast meeting with his cabinet colleagues on Thursday. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti confirmed that all arrangements had been placed on hold for the time being.