Siddaramaiah resignation: Cabinet breaks down in tears at breakfast meeting
Synopsis
Karnataka's longest-serving CM since Devaraj Urs announced his resignation at a breakfast cabinet meeting, reducing ministers — and ultimately himself — to tears. The AICC has already named D.K. Shivakumar as his successor, and Siddaramaiah told his cabinet he had personally promised Rahul Gandhi he would step down on the party's command.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah announced his resignation at a cabinet breakfast meeting on 28 May in Bengaluru .
The entire cabinet broke down in tears; Excise Minister R.B.
Timmapur said even Siddaramaiah became emotional.
Shivakumar , Deputy CM and State Congress President, has been named by the AICC as the next Chief Minister.
Siddaramaiah told ministers he had promised Rahul Gandhi he would resign when the party asked, and was honouring that promise.
Siddaramaiah is described as Karnataka's longest-serving CM after the late D.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced his decision to resign at a high-profile breakfast meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday, 28 May, triggering an outpouring of emotion among the entire state cabinet. According to Karnataka Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur, a close associate of the Chief Minister, ministers broke down in tears following the announcement, with Siddaramaiah himself becoming emotional after witnessing the reaction.
What Happened at the Breakfast Meeting
Timmapur, speaking to reporters after the meeting, described the atmosphere as one of 'pin-drop silence' after Siddaramaiah made his announcement. 'All cabinet members turned emotional when Siddaramaiah announced that he would tender his resignation. Including me, a majority of ministers could not control and broke down in tears after his announcement,' Timmapur said.
The Chief Minister reportedly did not call a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting at this gathering. Instead, he informed ministers of his decision, thanked them for their cooperation, and praised the collective administration for 'ensuring good administration without attracting any allegations,' according to Timmapur.
Shivakumar Named as Successor
Siddaramaiah informed the cabinet that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership had decided to appoint Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. Timmapur said Siddaramaiah told ministers that he had personally promised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that he would step down whenever the party asked him to, and that he was now honouring that commitment.
Shivakumar, responding during the meeting, reportedly assured Siddaramaiah that he would continue to seek his guidance and support in running the government.
Siddaramaiah's Legacy and Political Journey
Timmapur described Siddaramaiah as the longest-serving Chief Minister in Karnataka after the late D. Devaraj Urs, crediting him with strengthening and empowering the Indian National Congress (INC) in the state. 'The Congress party gave him an opportunity to serve as the longest-serving Chief Minister after late D. Devaraj Urs, and Siddaramaiah, in turn, strengthened and empowered the party,' Timmapur said.
The Excise Minister, who hails from the Dalit community, credited Siddaramaiah personally for reviving his political career after three electoral defeats. 'At a time when I felt my political career had ended, Siddaramaiah made me an MLC and later inducted me into the cabinet,' he said.
Siddaramaiah on Democracy and Party's Future
According to Timmapur, Siddaramaiah also used the meeting to speak at length about the party's ideological direction and the need to strengthen democratic institutions. He reportedly cited electoral outcomes in states like West Bengal and expressed concern about the future of democracy in India. Timmapur praised Siddaramaiah's commitment to social justice, particularly on issues of internal reservation and representation for oppressed communities.
With Shivakumar now set to take charge, Karnataka's Congress government enters a new chapter — one that Siddaramaiah has publicly pledged to support from the sidelines.
Point of View
But the choreography of collective tears and pledges of loyalty tells a more complex story. The Congress high command's decision to install Shivakumar — long his rival within the state unit — was presented as a fait accompli, not a negotiation. The personal loyalty Siddaramaiah commands among Dalit and backward-community ministers, as Timmapur's testimony makes plain, gives him considerable informal leverage over the incoming CM. Whether Shivakumar can govern independently of that shadow, or whether Karnataka ends up with a dual-power arrangement, is the real question the breakfast meeting left unanswered.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Siddaramaiah resigning as Karnataka Chief Minister?
Siddaramaiah announced his resignation following a directive from the Congress high command (AICC). He told cabinet colleagues that he had personally promised Rahul Gandhi he would step down whenever the party asked, and that he was now honouring that promise.
Who will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka?
Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar has been named by the AICC as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. Shivakumar reportedly assured Siddaramaiah during the meeting that he would continue to seek his guidance.
What happened at the Karnataka cabinet breakfast meeting on 28 May?
Siddaramaiah informed the assembled cabinet of his resignation decision, thanked ministers for their cooperation, and outlined the AICC's decision on his successor. The announcement triggered an emotional response, with a majority of ministers breaking down in tears, according to Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur.
Who is R.B. Timmapur and why did he speak about the meeting?
R.B. Timmapur is Karnataka's Excise Minister and a close associate of Siddaramaiah. He addressed the media after the breakfast meeting to describe the atmosphere and Siddaramaiah's final address to the cabinet.
How long has Siddaramaiah served as Karnataka Chief Minister?
Siddaramaiah is described as Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister after the late D. Devaraj Urs. His current tenure began after the Congress won the state assembly elections in 2023.
