THE DKS ERA BEGINS: D K Shivakumar Sworn In as Karnataka’s 25th Chief Minister

BYLINE: Political Bureau

PUBLISHED: June 3, 2026 | 5:15 PM IST

BENGALURU: In a seamless transition of power that marks a defining chapter in Karnataka’s political history, state Congress chief and the party’s foremost “troubleshooter,” Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar, was officially sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The high-profile swearing-in ceremony took place at 4:05 PM today at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 64-year-old leader, amid resounding cheers and chants from thousands of supporters gathered outside the venue.

Alongside Shivakumar, veteran Congress leader Dr. G. Parameshwara took the oath as the sole Deputy Chief Minister. A carefully balanced cabinet of 13 ministers was also sworn into office during the ceremony, solidifying a new command structure for the ruling Congress government following the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Grand Ceremony at Lok Bhavan

The atmosphere at Lok Bhavan was electric, attended by the absolute cream of India’s political brass. Top Congress leadership, including Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, and state in-charge Randeep Surjewala, flew into the tech capital to witness the transition.

Prior to taking the stage, Shivakumar received a phone call from Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who conveyed her “unwavering confidence” in his leadership and urged him to “take everyone together” as he governs the state.

In a touch of personal history, special invitations were extended to the current students of the Doddalahalli Government School—the grassroots institution in Kanakapura where Shivakumar began his early education.

A New-Look Cabinet Takes Shape

The initial phase of the Cabinet expansion heavily emphasized regional and caste equilibrium, combining seasoned loyalists with younger leadership. Prominent figures who took the oath of office today include:

• Dr. G. Parameshwara (Deputy Chief Minister)

• M.B. Patil

• K.J. George

• Ramalinga Reddy

• Priyank Kharge

• Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah (son of the outgoing Chief Minister)

The presence of Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah in the newly formed Cabinet underscores a strategic move by the party high command to signal unity and continuity within the state unit, quelling any rumors of internal friction after the leadership hand-off.

From Troubleshooter to the Top Job

For “DKS,” as he is universally known, the elevation to Chief Minister represents the culmination of a four-decade-long political journey. Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura, Shivakumar started as a student leader in the 1980s. An eight-time MLA, he holds a flawless electoral track record in his stronghold, winning consecutive assembly elections with massive majorities.

Over the years, Shivakumar earned a reputation as the Congress party’s national anchor during periods of crisis, famously shielding party MLAs and managing high-stakes political maneuvers in Maharashtra (2002) and Gujarat (2017). Having successfully engineered the party’s thumping majority in the 2023 assembly elections as KPCC President and serving as Deputy CM since then, his ascension to the top post fulfills a long-standing promise of power-sharing within the state executive.

What Lies Ahead

As the grand ceremony concluded with the rendition of the National Anthem, the focus immediately shifts to governance. The Shivakumar-led administration faces the immediate task of portfolio allocation among the newly inducted ministers, sustaining the state’s aggressive welfare guarantees, and steering Bengaluru’s infrastructure through its next phase of global growth.

With the party high command firmly backing his organizational prowess, the “Kanakapura Rock” officially takes the wheel of Karnataka’s state machinery.