DK Shivakumar was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister on Wednesday, formally taking charge of the state government along with Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and a 12-member ministerial team, ending the protracted leadership tussle with his predecessor Siddaramaiah.
Soon after taking oath, Shivakumar chaired the first Cabinet meeting and announced youth-focused initiatives, including free bus ticket for students and formation of 10,000 Bharat Guddu Yuva Sangas to raise the quality of leadership and build social harmony.
Read also | ‘DK Shivakumar is an experienced politician’: Ramya says she is really happy that he is taking oath as Karnataka CM
Earlier in the day, Governor Thawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar at Lok Bhavan in a ceremony attended by senior Congress leaders and public figures from across the country.
Dressed in a silk kurta and dhoti, Shivakumar took oath as revered seer Vira Gangadhara Ajaya while holding a copy of the Constitution. He bowed and prostrated to the crowd before taking the oath.
Senior Dalit MLA G Parameshwara took oath as BR Ambedkar, while Yathindra Siddaramaiah cited the Constitution.
Other legislators who took oath as ministers were KH Muniappa, KJ George, MP Patel, Ramalinga Reddy, Satish Jarkiholi, Krishna Peregowda, Priyank Karge, UT Khader, Ishwar Khander, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, Birathi Suresh, and Sharan Prakash Patel.
13 ministers have been appointed in the Shivakumar-led government
Eleven of the 13 ministers appointed in the Shivakumar-led government were part of the previous Siddaramaiah government in the state. Interestingly, Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra also made it to the ministry. However, no women representatives were included in the first phase of government formation.
In a post on X, Shivakumar described the occasion as a collective achievement and not a personal event.
“Today, with immense humility and a heart full of gratitude, I took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at Lok Bhavan. This moment does not belong to me alone, but to the people of Karnataka and hundreds of thousands of dedicated Karyakartas whose passion, trust and unwavering faith have carried me through every challenge and every milestone of my journey. In every high and low, they have been my strength and inspiration. I bow my head in gratitude to every one of you who believed in me,” he wrote. “By my side.”
“In today’s rapidly changing technology era, we must take a proud Karnataka to the pinnacle of development with new ideas. In this path of all-round progress, participation of farmers, workers, women, students, youth and every citizen is crucial for us. Not every individual can bring about change, but if we all come together, nothing is impossible. Come, let us build a beautiful, prosperous and progressive Karnataka that our future generations will be proud of,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new Prime Minister in a post on
In a special Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, Shivakumar announced that all school and college students in the state would get free bus tickets, calling the measure the first major decision taken by his government.
“This is the age of youth. Students were wondering why free bus travel is available only to girls. We have decided to provide free bus tickets to all students. Every student in schools and colleges will be eligible for this. This is the first decision taken by my government. Students will have to apply. We will discuss the implementation with the transport ministry,” he told reporters.
Shivakumar said that a special employment exchange will be set up to address the problem of unemployment where people can join jobs. He said: “The methods for exchanging employment in the private sector will be completed within a month.”
He also announced the establishment of 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sangha across Karnataka to raise the quality of leadership and build social harmony in the state. ” $“10 lakh will be given to Bharat Guddu Yuva Sangha in every village panchayat,” he added. The Cabinet further decided that the drive to issue A-Khata document for unauthorized buildings will be expanded across Karnataka.
Besides Khargi and Gandhi, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Kerala Leader of Opposition V D Sathisan were also present at the event.
Shivakumar’s promotion comes on the heels of Siddaramaiah’s resignation on May 28. Announcing his decision, Siddaramaiah had said: “I am making way for a new prime minister.”
Shivakumar was elected leader of the Congress Legislative Party on Saturday. He served as Deputy Chief Minister in the Siddaramaiah government from May 2023 and has represented the Kanakapura constituency since 2008, having previously represented Sathanur between 1989 and 2008.
A day before the swearing-in ceremony, Siddaramaiah was appointed to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest executive body. The next Karnataka Assembly elections are expected to be held in May 2028.
