DK Shivakumar to take oath as Karnataka CM on June 3; Rahul, Kharge to attend
Synopsis
DK Shivakumar finally takes oath as Karnataka CM on 3 June at Bengaluru's Lok Bhavan, with Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge in attendance. The guest list — spanning Doddalahalli schoolchildren, Dalit groups, farmers, industrialists and film personalities — signals a deliberate inclusivity pitch as Shivakumar steps into a role he says was “delayed, but not denied.”
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar will be sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister at 4.05 pm on 3 June at the Glass House, Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru .
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy.
Rahul Gandhi , Mallikarjun Kharge , K.C.
Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala are expected to attend.
The guest list includes farmers, Dalit and OBC representatives, women's SHGs, students from Doddalahalli, and leaders from film, judiciary and industry.
Shivakumar called his elevation a victory for Congress workers, saying it was “delayed but not denied”.
Karnataka Chief Minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar will be sworn in at 4.05 pm on Wednesday, 3 June, at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru, with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administering the oath of office and secrecy to him and members of the new council of ministers. The ceremony, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the office of the Chief Minister-designate, will feature a broad cross-section of society, reflecting what the Congress is projecting as a commitment to inclusive governance.
Who will attend the ceremony
Senior Congress leaders expected at the event include AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala. Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers and Pradesh Congress Committee presidents from various states are also slated to attend, alongside Members of Parliament and senior party leaders.
An expanded guest list
In a notable move, the invitation list extends well beyond political circles. It includes religious leaders representing different faiths and students from the Government School at Doddalahalli in Kanakapura — Shivakumar's home turf.
Daily wage workers, civic workers, farmer leaders, representatives of Dalit and Backward Class organisations, women's self-help groups, women leaders and youth leaders have also been invited. Members of the media, film industry, judiciary, sports fraternity, theatre personalities, writers, artists, industrialists, business leaders and representatives of the hotel industry round out the list.
What Shivakumar said
Earlier on Tuesday, Shivakumar said a “new era for youth” would begin in the state under his leadership, while acknowledging that the responsibilities ahead would not be easy. He framed his elevation as a victory for Congress workers rather than a personal milestone.
“The party has allowed a worker, not a leader. I am deeply obliged by the faith and confidence reposed in me. I know the road ahead will not be easy, and there will be difficult times, but I have to manage them and continue working hard,” he said.
“The world has seen India through Bengaluru. Karnataka is a very important state, and wherever I go, people tell me how significant it is. Therefore, I must take every section of society along with me,” he added, pledging to work for farmers, women and youth.
Why it matters
Shivakumar's swearing-in caps a long internal contest within the Karnataka Congress over the top job. Reflecting on the journey, he said, “It has been a tough journey. Though it was delayed, it was not denied. This is not about Shivakumar alone; it is about every Congress worker who stood by the party and believed in its democratic traditions.”
The optics of an inclusive guest list — from school students to industrialists — signals an attempt to broaden the new government's social base from day one, even as the political churn that preceded the leadership change remains a live subtext.
Point of View
Not denied” line is candid, but it also flags the unresolved arithmetic inside the Karnataka Congress that brought him here. The real test is not the ceremony's optics but whether the cabinet composition reflects the same social spread the invitation card promises. Inclusive guest lists are easy; inclusive portfolios are not.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will DK Shivakumar take oath as Karnataka CM?
D.K. Shivakumar will take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister at 4.05 pm on Wednesday, 3 June, at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy.
Which senior Congress leaders will attend the swearing-in ceremony?
AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala are expected to attend. Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers and PCC presidents from various states have also been invited.
Who else has been invited apart from politicians?
The guest list includes religious leaders of different faiths, students from the Government School at Doddalahalli in Kanakapura, daily wage workers, civic workers, farmer leaders, Dalit and Backward Class representatives, women's self-help groups, and youth leaders. Members of the media, film industry, judiciary, sports, theatre, business and the hotel industry have also been invited.
What did Shivakumar say about his elevation as Chief Minister?
Shivakumar described his elevation as a victory for Congress workers rather than a personal achievement, saying the party had “allowed a worker, not a leader” to take charge. He acknowledged the road ahead would be difficult and said a “new era for youth” would begin in Karnataka under his leadership.
Why is the swearing-in being seen as politically significant?
The broad-based invitation list — spanning farmers, Dalits, OBCs, women, students and industry — is being viewed as an attempt to project inclusive governance from day one. It also comes after a prolonged internal contest within the Karnataka Congress over the chief ministerial post.
