DK Shivakumar is set to take oath as the state’s Chief Minister on Wednesday, marking a major political milestone after years of leadership battles and speculation over the party’s top post. The swearing in event will likely happen at 4:05 PM in the Glass House at Lok Bhavan where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy. Along with Shivakumar, the first set of ministers is also likely to be brought into the newly formed government. Reports are saying that around 12-13 legislators may take oath as ministers but the final report is still not confirmed yet officially.
DK Shivakumar’s Big Day
The leadership transition happened a few days after outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stepped down, by direction from the Congress high command. Shivakumar was later chosen as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, which cleared the lane for him to rise to the state’s top executive post. He is an eight time MLA, and also counted as one of Karnataka’s most influential Vokkaliga leaders, Shivakumar has for a long time been viewed as a kind of main power centre inside the Congress and a noticeable presence in southern Indian politics.
What Did DK Shivakumar Say Regarding Final List Of Ministers?
On Tuesday, Shivakumar stated that the final list of ministers will be made public by the Congress high command by 10 AM or noon. ‘The names appearing in the media regarding the selection of ministers are not official,’ Shivakumar said during a press conference earlier, dismissing media claims on cabinet selections. The list of ministers will be made public by the high command leaders today at 10 AM or noon. Additionally, Shivakumar acknowledged that the Congress Bhavan foundation stone laying ceremony has been postponed and stated that meetings with party officials and a cabinet meeting will be part of the post swearing in activities. The swearing-in ceremony marks the culmination of a long political process following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation on May 28, which paved the way for the leadership transition in Karnataka. The Governor subsequently accepted the resignation and dissolved the Council of Ministers.
Congress Leaders Meeting DK Shivakumar And Siddaramaiah
In order to discuss the new Cabinet composition, Rajya Sabha nominations, and organisational restructuring, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi met with Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah earlier on Tuesday in New Delhi. Simultaneously, on Tuesday, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) designated departing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) with immediate effect.
From Troubleshooter To CM Of Karnataka
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.
DK Shivakumar’s Journey
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. He has been instrumental in defending Congress regimes in the past, particularly during the 2002 Maharashtra political crisis and the 2017 Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections. He is well known for his organisational abilities. Additionally, he has played a key role in Karnataka party strategy, which included winning the Assembly election in 2023. Shivakumar was Deputy Chief Minister in the previous administration and has been the president of the KPCC since 2020. Controversies throughout his career, such as several central agency investigations and a brief jail sentence in 2019, did not stop him from rising to prominence in politics. Shivakumar, a close friend of the Gandhi family, will legally take over as Karnataka’s chief minister, signifying a significant change in the state’s administration.
(With Agency Inputs)
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