Congress MP DK Shivakumar on Wednesday took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru at around 4 pm. Thirteen legislators were sworn in with him as ministers in his government.
Below is a brief overview of the leaders.
G Parameshwara
As the trusted organizing hand of the Congress and one of the most prominent faces of Dalits in Karnataka, Parameshwara returned to the post of Deputy Chief Minister, marking another milestone in his political career spanning over three decades.
The 74-year-old leader, who has spent years strengthening the Congress Party’s grassroots network in Karnataka, has long been viewed as one of the party’s most disciplined and reliable administrators. His elevation as deputy chief minister in the DK Shivakumar-led government is widely seen as recognition of his lasting contribution to regulation and governance. It represents the Kuratagiri catchment section of the Tumakuru district.
Satish Jarkiholi
A six-time MLA, he was the Public Works Minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government. The 64-year-old Jarkiholi hails from the Valmiki tribal community and belongs to a political business family that owns a sugar factory. He represents Yamakannamarade in Belagavi.
Priyank is out
The 47-year-old Congress leader is the son of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. The Dalit leader was holding the posts of IT, Biotechnology, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj portfolio in the Siddaramaiah government. The Chittapur MLA is known for his fiery stand against the BJP and RSS.
UT Khader is unique
Having served as Assembly Speaker during the Siddaramaiah government, the 56-year-old Khadr is a powerful face of the minority Congress from the coastal state of Karnataka. He has held various positions in the past, including health and family welfare, food and civil supplies, urban development and housing. He represents Mangaluru constituency in Dakshina Kannada district.
Krishna Bair Gowda
Krishna Bair Gowda (53) is one of the well-known faces of Vokkaliga in Karnataka. He served as Revenue Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state. Gowda holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from American University in Washington, D.C., and a BBM degree from Christ University. His father, C. Bair Gowda, was Deputy Speaker and Agriculture Minister in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Krishna Bair Gowda represents the Byatarayanapura Assembly segment.
KH Muniyappa
He belongs to the Scheduled Caste Madiga community and was the Minister of Civil Supplies and Public Distribution in the Siddaramaiah government. The 78-year-old was a seven-time Member of Parliament from Kolar and returned to state politics in 2023. His daughter Rupakala is a Congress MLA. He represents Devanahalli constituency in rural Bengaluru.
Ramalinga Reddy
The 72-year-old MLA from BTM Layout in Bengaluru, Ramalinga Reddy was holding the Transport and Hindu Religious Endowments Department in the Siddaramaiah government. He had previously held the portfolio of the Ministry of Interior.
Yathendra Siddaramaiah
Son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Yatindra belongs to the Kuruba herder community. Yathindra, a doctor by profession, is a Congress MLC. He previously served as MLA of Assembly segment in Varuna.
KG George
Kailashandra Joseph George is a Malayali settled in Bengaluru. He had served as Energy Minister in the Siddaramaiah government. He was Minister of Interior in the previous Congress government (2013-2015). He represents Sarvagna Nagar in Bengaluru.
Ashwar Khandari
Former minister Bhimana Khandre’s son, 64-year-old Khandre, represents Bhalki Assembly constituency. He served as Minister of Forests, Environment and Environment in the previous Siddaramaiah government.
Sharan Prakash Patel
The 59-year-old Congress leader, a doctor by profession, is a prominent political face of the Lingayat community in Kalyana district of Karnataka. He served as Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development in the Siddaramaiah-led government. Patel represents Sidam constituency.
M. B. Patel
One of the prominent Lingayat leaders, MB Patil (61), is the working president of the Jagatika Lingayata Mahasabha. He is the eldest son of B M Patel, a famous educationist, politician and public figure from Vijayapura. Representing Babaleshwar Assembly constituency, Patil holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Vachana Pitamaha PG Halakatti College of Engineering at BLDEA. He also served as Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development in the Siddaramaiah-led government.
Birati Suresh
The 53-year-old MLA belongs to the Kuruba community. Suresh was urban development minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government. He is considered close to Siddaramaiah. He represents Hebbal Society’s Bengaluru division.
