Bengaluru: Eight-time legislator and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D.K. Shivakumar sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of the State. Senior Dalit leader from Koratgere in Tumakuru district G. Parameshwara was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister.

In a subdued but packed ceremony at Glass House in Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru and in the presence of a host of party leaders and religious heads among others, Mr. Shivakumar, who took over the reigns of the State from veteran OBC leader Shri Siddaramaiah, was sworn in along with 13 Cabinet ministers including Shri Parameshwara. Shri D.K. Shivakumar, who led the Congress to victory in 2023 elections as the KPCC President will have little less than two years term before the next assembly elections.

Among those to take oath included Shri U.T. Khader, who earlier resigned from the post of Speaker. With an exception to Shri. Khader, who was a minister in Shri Siddaramaiah’s first term, and Shri Dr. Yathindra, all others sworn in on Wednesday (June 2) served under Mr. Siddaramaiah in the second term. Those inducted to cabinet include Shri K.H. Muniyappa, Shri K.J. George, Shri M.B. Patil, Shri Ramalinga Reddy, Shri Satish Jarkiholi, Shri Krishna Byregowda, Shri Priyank Kharge, Shri Eshwar Khandre, Shri Byrathi Suresh and Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil.

Among those in attendance were Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Keralam Chief Minister Shri V.D. Satheesan and Telangana Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy along with many senior leader others.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Shri Shivakumar arrived in Vidhan Soudha where he garlanded the statue of B.R. Ambedkar.

A day before taking office, Shri D.K. Shivakumar thanked Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Shri Rahul Gandhi and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for their support throughout his political career. He said that Smt. Sonia Gandhi had placed her trust in him from the very beginning and recalled being appointed Karnataka Congress President under her leadership. Shri D.K. Shivakumar expressed gratitude to the Gandhi family and the Party high command for their confidence in him during his rise within the Congress Party.