D.K. Shivakumar to be sworn in as Karnataka CM on June 3 at Raj Bhavan
Synopsis
Karnataka's political transition is being choreographed for optics as much as governance — Congress is keeping Shivakumar's swearing-in deliberately low-key, overruling plans for 1,000 buses of supporters, to project a 'public service first' image from day one. The cabinet line-up remains undecided, signalling that internal negotiations are still live.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar will be sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister on 3 June at the Glass House, Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru .
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) announced the date on 30 May , ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting.
The party has instructed workers and supporters not to travel to Bengaluru for the ceremony; no passes will be issued.
Plans to arrange nearly 1,000 buses for supporters were called off, as 3 June is a working day .
Cabinet composition remains undecided; it will be finalised after Shivakumar is elected CLP leader and Siddaramaiah formally hands over leadership.
After taking oath, Shivakumar will tour district headquarters across Karnataka to meet party workers and the public.
D.K. Shivakumar, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3 June at the Glass House in Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru, the party announced on Saturday, 30 May. The ceremony is set to be a low-key affair, with the Congress deliberately eschewing large-scale mobilisation in favour of a restrained, public-service-oriented event.
Key Developments
The announcement was made at a joint emergency press conference at the Congress party office by KPCC Working President and Rajya Sabha member G.C. Chandrashekar, ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting scheduled for 4 pm that day. Chandrashekar confirmed that the party had actively discussed and agreed on the format with Shivakumar himself.
Notably, supporters of Shivakumar had reportedly planned to arrange nearly 1,000 buses to ferry people to Bengaluru for the event. The party overruled those plans, citing that 3 June is a working day and that large gatherings would cause disruption to normal city life.
What the Party Said
'There has been a lot of speculation in the media regarding the swearing-in ceremony. The party has now decided that D.K. Shivakumar will take oath as Chief Minister on June 3. The event will be held at the Glass House in Raj Bhavan,' Chandrashekar said.
He appealed directly to Congress workers and Shivakumar's supporters across Karnataka not to travel to Bengaluru. 'We request party workers and Shivakumar's admirers not to come to Bengaluru for the swearing-in ceremony. Please cooperate in ensuring that normal life is not disrupted and that the event becomes a model swearing-in ceremony,' he said. The party also confirmed that no passes would be issued to workers for the event.
Cabinet Formation and Leadership Transition
On the question of cabinet composition, Chandrashekar said no decisions had yet been taken on how many ministers would be sworn in alongside the Chief Minister. The cabinet line-up will be finalised only after Shivakumar is formally elected as the CLP leader and outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completes the handover of leadership.
The party reiterated its expectation that Shivakumar would continue the welfare guarantee schemes introduced under Siddaramaiah's tenure over the past three years. 'The party's objective is to ensure that these initiatives continue under Shivakumar's leadership,' Chandrashekar said.
What Happens After the Oath
Following the swearing-in, Shivakumar is expected to embark on a tour of district headquarters across Karnataka to meet party workers and the public. The party framed this as the reason supporters need not travel to Bengaluru — the new Chief Minister will come to them. All eyes now turn to the CLP meeting, which will formalise the leadership transition and set the stage for the new government's first steps.
Point of View
The louder the signal that factional bargaining inside the CLP is unfinished. Shivakumar inherits a state government with significant fiscal commitments from Siddaramaiah's guarantee schemes, and the composition of his cabinet will reveal how much he can stamp his own authority versus managing coalition pressures within the party. The district-tour plan post-oath is smart politics — it reframes the transition as outreach rather than celebration.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will D.K. Shivakumar be sworn in as Karnataka CM?
D.K. Shivakumar will be sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister on 3 June at the Glass House in Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee announced the date on 30 May.
Why is the swearing-in ceremony being kept simple?
The Congress party decided to keep the event low-key because 3 June is a working day and the party did not want to disrupt normal life in Bengaluru. Plans by supporters to arrange nearly 1,000 buses were called off on party instructions.
Has the new Karnataka cabinet been decided?
No. As of 30 May, no decision had been taken on cabinet composition or the number of ministers to be sworn in. The line-up will be finalised after Shivakumar is elected Congress Legislature Party leader and Siddaramaiah formally hands over the leadership.
Who is D.K. Shivakumar and what role did he hold before becoming CM?
D.K. Shivakumar is the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). He was a senior Congress leader and minister in previous Karnataka governments, and his election as CM marks a leadership transition from outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
What happens after Shivakumar takes the oath?
After the swearing-in, Shivakumar is expected to tour district headquarters across Karnataka to meet party workers and the public. The party cited this planned outreach as a reason for supporters not to travel to Bengaluru for the ceremony.
