D.K. Shivakumar Sworn In as Karnataka CM, G. Parameshwara Deputy CM

D.K. Shivakumar was sworn in as the 34th Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, during a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. The significant political transition follows the resignation of the outgoing Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who stepped down on May 28, 2026, as directed by the Congress high command. This move completes a leadership change that began last week, allowing Shivakumar, a seasoned eight-time legislator and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, to assume the state's top political office. In a notable moment during the ceremony, D.K. Shivakumar took his oath in the name of Gangadhar Ajjayya, a revered spiritual guru from Nonavinakere in Tumkur district. Shivakumar has a deep personal and spiritual connection with Ajjayya, often seeking his advice before major political decisions and crediting him for guidance during difficult times. Reports indicate that the auspicious time (muhurta) for the oath-taking was chosen based on Ajjayya's suggestion. Before the ceremony, Shivakumar met with a host of godmen and seers from various castes and religions, including pontiffs from prominent mutts like Pejawar Mutt and Adichunchanagiri Mutt. Accompanying Shivakumar in the new government, G. Parameshwara was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. Parameshwara, a prominent Dalit leader, has a significant political career, having previously served as Deputy Chief Minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government and as the longest-serving President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. His appointment was finalized after days of consultation within the Congress high command, ensuring a balanced representation within the new leadership. In addition to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, 13 other cabinet ministers also took their oath of office on June 3, 2026. The Congress party released the list of these ministers hours before the swearing-in ceremony. The new cabinet includes a mix of experienced leaders and new faces, carefully selected to balance seniority, caste, and regional equations within the state. Among those sworn in are Yathindra Siddaramaiah (son of the former Chief Minister), U.T. Khader (who resigned as Legislative Assembly Speaker for the cabinet role), M.B. Patil, K.J. George, K.H. Muniyappa, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy, Krishna Byregowda, Priyank Kharge, Ishwar Khandre, Byrathi Suresh, and Sharan Prakash Patil. Many of these individuals were part of the previous Siddaramaiah-led cabinet. The swearing-in ceremony itself was a significant political event, attended by several high-profile Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Chief Ministers from other Congress-ruled states, such as V.D. Satheeshan (Kerala), Revanth Reddy (Telengana), and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh), were also present. The event saw a limited gathering of approximately 2,000 invitees, with arrangements made for the public to watch the ceremony live at government bus stands across the state, highlighting its importance to a broader audience. Elaborate security and traffic management measures were implemented in Bengaluru's Central Business District around Lok Bhavan to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. This leadership transition comes after a period of prolonged speculation and internal discussions within the Congress party regarding a power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, which was reportedly agreed upon when the party came to power in May 2023. Siddaramaiah's resignation marks the end of his second term as Chief Minister, a tenure during which he became Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister, surpassing D. Devaraj Urs's record. D.K. Shivakumar, often referred to as Congress's "troubleshooter" in South India, now steps into the role of Chief Minister, fulfilling a long-cherished aspiration. The formation of this new cabinet is expected to set the political agenda for Karnataka for the coming years, with further cabinet expansions anticipated after Rajya Sabha elections.

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