Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar took oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka, along with 13 ministers approved by the Congress high command today.
The list of ministers, comprising veteran leaders and young faces, was approved by the leadership ahead of the swearing-in ceremony held at 4 pm at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru.
Senior Congress leader G Parameshwar will be Deputy Chief Minister. He also tool oath of office on 3 June. Congress leaders MB Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy, MB Patil, Congress president Malikarjun Kharge's son, Priyank Kharge and former chief minister Siddaramaiah's son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah also took oath in the new government.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar greeted supporters gathered outside his Bengaluru residence, where celebrations and prayers were held ahead of the ceremony marking his elevation to the state's top post.
Top Congress leadership including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretary KC Venugopal, and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala, several Chief Ministers from Congress-ruled states were present on the occasion.
After decades of political manoeuvring, crisis management, and strengthening the Congress organisation in Karnataka, Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar, popularly known as DK Shivakumar, is set to take oath as Chief Minister after being elected as the Congress Legislative Party leader.
An eight-time MLA and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Shivakumar--often described as the party's "troubleshooter"--rose through the ranks with a strong grassroots base and a reputation for handling political crises. His close ties with senior Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge, strengthened his claim to the top post after a prolonged internal leadership discussion.
Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura, Shivakumar entered politics as a student leader in the 1980s. After an initial setback in 1985, he won his first Assembly election in 1989 at the age of 27 and went on to secure eight consecutive wins, building a strong base in Vokkaliga-dominated regions.
Known for his organisational skills, he has played key roles in safeguarding Congress governments in the past, including during the 2002 Maharashtra political crisis and the 2017 Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections. He has also been instrumental in party strategy in Karnataka, including the 2023 Assembly election victory.
Shivakumar has served as KPCC president since 2020 and was Deputy Chief Minister in the previous government. His career has also seen controversies, including multiple investigations by central agencies and a brief incarceration in 2019, though these did not derail his political rise.
A close confidante of the Gandhi family, Shivakumar is set to formally assume office as Karnataka's Chief Minister, marking a key leadership transition in the state.
Here is a full list of 13 ministers who will take oath along with DKS today
1. DK Shivakumar – Chief Minister
1. G Parameshwar - Deputy Chief Minister
2. KH Muniyappa
3. KJ George
4. MB Patil
5. Ramalinga Reddy
6. Sathish Jarakiholi
7. Krishna Byregowda
8. Priyank Kharge
9. U T Khader
10. Eshwar Khandre
11. Yathindra Siddaramaiah
12. Byrathi Suresh
13. Sharan Prakash Patil
(With agency inputs)
