CM Shivakumar Witnesses Gayatri Shantegowda's MLC Oath
Synopsis
Smt. A.V. Gayatri Shantegowda took her oath as a Karnataka Vidhana Parishat member on 7 August 2026 at Speaker Basavaraj Horatti's office, in the presence of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and senior Congress leaders including KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad.
Key Takeaways
Gayatri Shantegowda was sworn in as a new member of the Karnataka Vidhana Parishat on 7 August 2026 .
The oath was administered at the office of Speaker Basavaraj Horatti in Bengaluru.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was present and personally wished her well in public service.
Hariprasad , Minister Narendraswamy, Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed, and several other legislators attended the ceremony.
Karnataka's Vidhana Parishat operates under Article 171 of the Indian Constitution, with vacancies filled periodically by election or nomination.
A new voice enters Karnataka's upper house. Smt. A.V. Gayatri Shantegowda was sworn in as a member of the Vidhana Parishat on Friday, 7 August 2026, with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar present to witness the ceremony — a moment that marks her formal entry into the state's bicameral legislature.
The oath was administered at the office of Vidhana Parishat Speaker Basavaraj Horatti in Bengaluru. Following the swearing-in, Chief Minister Shivakumar extended his wishes to the new member, urging her to serve the people well and respond meaningfully to their aspirations — janara ashotaragalige spandisi uttama ritiyalli janaseve maaduvante (to serve the public well by responding to the hopes of the people).
Congress ranks turn out for the ceremony
The occasion drew a significant gathering of senior party and government figures. KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad, Minister Narendraswamy, Vidhana Parishat Government Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed, MLA Prakash Koliwad, and Council members S. Ravi, Ivan D'Souza, and H.P. Sudhamadas were among those present.
What Article 171 means in practice
Karnataka's Vidhana Parishat is constituted under Article 171 of the Indian Constitution, which governs the composition of state legislative councils. Vacancies in the Council are filled periodically through election or nomination, and swearing-in ceremonies of this kind are a standard constitutional formality — conducted in the presence of the Speaker and senior state leadership before the new member can participate in proceedings.
Gayatri Shantegowda's first test as a legislator will come in the next session of the Parishat, where her maiden speech and committee assignments will signal the role she intends to carve out in Karnataka's upper house.
Point of View
Witnessed personally by Chief Minister Shivakumar and flanked by the KPCC president and multiple ministers, signals the Congress government's intent to project unity and institutional vigour in the upper house. The Vidhana Parishat has historically been a forum where ruling parties consolidate legislative arithmetic, and this ceremony fits a broader pattern of the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar administration reinforcing its hold on Karnataka's bicameral legislature. Her performance in the next Parishat session will be an early indicator of whether she is positioned as a policy voice or a party loyalist in the chamber.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is A.V. Gayatri Shantegowda?
Smt. A.V. Gayatri Shantegowda is a newly sworn-in member of the Karnataka Vidhana Parishat (Legislative Council), who took her oath of office on 7 August 2026 in the presence of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
What is the Karnataka Vidhana Parishat?
The Karnataka Vidhana Parishat is the upper house of Karnataka's bicameral state legislature, constituted under Article 171 of the Indian Constitution. Members are elected or nominated to fill vacancies periodically.
Who administered the oath to Gayatri Shantegowda?
The oath was administered at the office of Vidhana Parishat Speaker Basavaraj Horatti in Bengaluru on 7 August 2026.
Was DK Shivakumar present at the swearing-in?
Yes, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was present at the ceremony and personally extended his wishes to the new member, urging her to serve the people well.
Which other leaders attended the Vidhana Parishat swearing-in on 7 August 2026?
KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad, Minister Narendraswamy, Government Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed, MLA Prakash Koliwad, and Council members S. Ravi, Ivan D'Souza, and H.P. Sudhamadas were among those present.
