Bengaluru, June 3 (IANS) Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar was sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka, along with 13 members of his Council of Ministers, including a Deputy Chief Minister, at a grand ceremony held at the Glass House within the Lok Bhavan premises in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Veteran Congress leader G. Parameshwara was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. He took the oath of office in the name of B.R. Ambedkar amid loud cheers and slogan-shouting by party workers and supporters. Parameshwara, a prominent Dalit leader considered a contender for the Chief Minister’s post, is known for his composed approach to governance and previously served as Home Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led government.
Senior Congress leader K.H. Muniyappa took the oath in the name of God. A seven-time Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli, Muniyappa hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the senior-most leaders in the Karnataka Congress. A former Union Minister, he is known for his loyalty to the party and his people-friendly approach. He previously served as Minister for Food and Civil Supplies.
Senior leader K.J. George also took the oath in the name of God. A six-time MLA representing the Sarvagnanagar constituency in Bengaluru, George is considered close to the Congress high command and senior party leader Sonia Gandhi.
Prominent Congress leader M.B. Patil took the oath in the name of Jagajyoti Basavanna, the Vachanakars, and the late Siddeshwara Swamiji. A five-time MLA from the Babaleshwar constituency, Patil hails from the Lingayat community and is considered a close associate of Siddaramaiah. He is regarded as one of the party’s influential leaders.
Senior Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy took the oath of office without invoking the name of any deity, leader, or individual. An eight-time MLA representing the BTM Layout constituency in Bengaluru, he is known for maintaining cordial relations across political factions and for his accessibility to the public.
Mass leader Satish Jarkiholi from North Karnataka was sworn in as a minister without invoking any deity or individual. A five-time MLA from the Yamakanmardi constituency in Belagavi district, Jarkiholi hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as an influential leader among backward and oppressed communities. A close associate of Siddaramaiah, he has also been discussed as a potential KPCC president in the past.
Senior Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda took the oath as a minister. Hailing from the Vokkaliga community, he has represented the Byatarayanapura constituency in Bengaluru for three terms and the Vemgal constituency in Kolar district for two terms. He is widely regarded as one of the party’s younger policy-oriented leaders.
Priyank Kharge, son of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, also took the oath as a minister. A three-time MLA from the Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district, Priyank Kharge is known for his vocal criticism of the BJP and Hindutva politics. He belongs to the Dalit community.
Former Speaker U.T. Khader took the oath of office in the name of God. A five-time MLA from the Mangaluru district, Khader earned widespread appreciation during his tenure as Speaker for conducting Assembly proceedings impartially and handling sensitive issues with tact. He was also praised by opposition parties for running the House fairly.
Senior Congress leader Eshwar Khandre took the oath in the name of God and his late spiritual mentor Channabasava Pattadevaru. A four-time MLA from the Bhalki constituency in Bidar district, Khandre hails from the Lingayat community and comes from a family with longstanding ties to the Congress party.
Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, took the oath of office in the name of the Constitution. This marks his first stint as a minister in the Karnataka government.
Byrathi Suresh took the oath in the name of God. A two-time MLA from the Hebbal constituency in Bengaluru, he is considered a close associate of Siddaramaiah and belongs to the Kuruba community.
Sharan Prakash Patil took the oath in the name of God. A four-time MLA from the Sedam constituency in Kalaburagi district, Patil hails from the Lingayat community and is known to share cordial relations with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Earlier, amid loud slogans from supporters, Shivakumar walked to the dais and paid floral tributes to a portrait of Sri Veera Gangadhara Swamiji, popularly known as Ajjayya, Nonavinakere Ajja, or Veera Gangadhara Ajja. He then took the oath of office and secrecy.
Shivakumar took the oath while holding a copy of the Constitution and invoked the name of Veera Gangadhara Ajja, whom he regards as his spiritual guide.
The swearing-in ceremony commenced with the rendition of Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem performed by the Karnataka State Police Band. The state anthem was also played during the proceedings.
Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh welcomed the dignitaries and guests attending the ceremony. Before the formal proceedings began, Shivakumar felicitated outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by draping a shawl over his shoulders.
Several prominent national and state leaders attended the event, including Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Kerala Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, AICC General Secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, among others.
At the start of the ceremony, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh sought Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s permission to proceed with the swearing-in. Following the Governor’s approval, the oath-taking ceremony formally commenced.
The event marked the beginning of a new chapter in Karnataka politics, with Shivakumar assuming office as Chief Minister in the presence of senior Congress leaders, constitutional authorities, and thousands of party workers and supporters.
The ceremony concluded with the rendition of Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.
–IANS
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