DK Shivakumar takes Karnataka CM oath: ‘Chair belongs to people’
Synopsis
After months of public tug-of-war with Siddaramaiah, D.K. Shivakumar finally has the Karnataka CM's chair — and he wasted no time framing it as a people's mandate, not a personal victory. His first press conference signalled continuity with the Congress high command's writ, an olive branch to Siddaramaiah, and an urban-governance pivot for the remaining two years.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar assumed charge as Karnataka Chief Minister on 3 June , taking oath at 4.15 pm .
He said the CM's chair ‘belongs to the people’ and pledged service over personal considerations.
Decision was steered by Mallikarjun Kharge , Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi ; Siddaramaiah stepped aside.
Shivakumar flagged urban governance as a priority, noting 42% of Karnataka lives in urban areas.
He cited 40 years of political experience since 1985 , including imprisonment in Tihar Jail .
Government's remaining term: two years ; collective Cabinet decision-making promised.
D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday, 3 June formally assumed charge as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka, declaring that the top office ‘belongs to the people’ and pledging to dedicate his authority to public service. Addressing his first press conference at Vidhana Soudha after chairing his maiden Cabinet meeting, the Congress veteran framed the transition as a ‘new beginning’ for the state.
Key Developments
Shivakumar said he took the oath at the ‘auspicious hour of 4.15 pm’, ending months of speculation over the leadership change in the Congress-ruled state. ‘The Chief Minister's chair does not belong to D.K. Shivakumar. It is the people's chair. The authority given by the people will be dedicated to their service,’ he told reporters.
The new CM said the Congress high command had ‘put all uncertainties to rest’ after sustained media reports on a possible power transfer. ‘I had repeatedly asked everyone to be patient and wait for the right moment. Today, the media and the people of the state have witnessed that moment,’ he said.
What Shivakumar Said on the Transition
Shivakumar credited Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for steering the leadership change. He also publicly thanked former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for honouring the high command's decision.
‘When the high command called both of us and conveyed its decision, Siddaramaiah made way for me with great happiness. All leaders of the party have stood united and entrusted me with this responsibility,’ Shivakumar said.
Governance Priorities Outlined
Drawing on what he described as 40 years of political experience since 1985, Shivakumar said the remaining two years of the government's term would be used to ‘explore every possible avenue to serve the people’. He stressed that Cabinet calls would be ‘collective decisions rather than those of any individual’.
Flagging urbanisation as a policy priority, he noted that nearly 42 per cent of Karnataka's population now lives in urban areas, with migration driven by jobs and better schooling. ‘I do not believe in caste or religion as factors in governance. I may have my personal beliefs, but above all, I believe in humanity,’ he said.
Personal Reflections and Message to Media
Recalling his arrest and stint in Tihar Jail during earlier political battles, Shivakumar said he had ‘never lost courage’. ‘Criticism dies, but work remains,’ he remarked, urging journalists to scrutinise the government constructively but avoid ‘baseless political speculation’.
The new CM said the reconstituted Cabinet reflects Karnataka's ‘spirit of harmony among all communities’. With the second half of the Congress government's term now underway, attention will shift to portfolio allocations and how Shivakumar manages the delicate post-handover equilibrium with the Siddaramaiah camp.
Point of View
Even in a state where it holds a commanding majority. The real test now is portfolios: whether the Siddaramaiah camp retains heavyweight ministries will reveal if this was a genuine rotation deal or a brittle truce. With only two years left, Shivakumar inherits Bengaluru's infrastructure crisis and the guarantees' fiscal load — neither of which respond to rhetoric.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new Chief Minister of Karnataka?
D.K. Shivakumar was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3 June, taking oath at 4.15 pm. He chaired his first Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha the same day.
Why did Siddaramaiah step down as Karnataka CM?
Siddaramaiah made way for Shivakumar after the Congress high command — led by Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi — conveyed its decision on the leadership change. Shivakumar said Siddaramaiah honoured the high command's call ‘with great happiness’.
What did Shivakumar say at his first press conference?
Shivakumar said the CM's chair ‘belongs to the people’ and that he would dedicate the authority to public service. He pledged collective Cabinet decisions, flagged urban governance as a priority, and urged the media to avoid ‘baseless political speculation’.
What are Shivakumar's priorities for the remaining term?
Shivakumar said he would use the remaining two years of the Congress government's term to focus on welfare and governance, with particular attention to urban areas that house 42 per cent of Karnataka's population. He promised collective Cabinet decision-making over individual calls.
What is Shivakumar's political background?
Shivakumar has been in active politics since 1985, with over 40 years of experience across hardships, electoral wins and a stint in Tihar Jail during earlier political battles. He served as Karnataka Congress president and Deputy CM before assuming the top job.
