Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Wednesday took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. Senior Congress leader G Parameshwar was sworn in as his deputy. Along with them, 13 ministers were inducted into the new cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony.

Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura, DK Shivakumar holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. He pursued his higher education in Bengaluru and entered student politics at a young age before rising through the ranks of the Congress party. Over the decades, he established himself as one of the party’s most influential leaders in Karnataka, holding several ministerial portfolios and serving as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president before assuming the office of Chief Minister.

Beyond politics, DK Shivakumar is also associated with the education sector and serves as chairman of the National Education Foundation (NEF), an educational trust established in 2001 that manages several prominent institutions in Bengaluru.

These include the Global Academy of Technology (GAT), an autonomous engineering and management college in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, the National Hill View Public School (NHVPS) chain with campuses in Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Banashankari, and the Global College of Nursing. The trust is managed by members of the Shivakumar family, with his wife Usha Shivakumar serving as chairperson and daughter D.K.S. Aishwarya serving on the board of trustees, where she is involved in the administration and development of the group’s educational initiatives.

The ministers who took oath alongside Shivakumar include G Parameshwar, K H Muniyappa, K J George, M B Patil, Ramalinga Reddy, Sathish Jarakiholi, Krishna Byregowda, Priyank Kharge, U T Khader, Eshwar Khandre, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Byrathi Suresh and Sharan Prakash Patil.

The political transition marks a significant development in Karnataka’s politics, ending months of speculation over the state’s leadership. The Congress returned to power in Karnataka in May 2023 after a decisive victory in the Assembly elections. At the time, the party leadership had to navigate competing claims from Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, both of whom were considered strong contenders for the chief minister’s post.

The rivalry between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah had been one of the defining internal dynamics within the Karnataka Congress in the recent past. Following the party’s victory in 2023, intense negotiations took place in New Delhi as both leaders staked their claim to lead the government. While Siddaramaiah was ultimately chosen as Chief Minister, reports suggested that a power-sharing arrangement was worked out under which Shivakumar would take over the top post half-way through the government’s five-year term.

Shivakumar’s elevation to the chief minister’s post is now being viewed as the culmination of a prolonged political tussle and a carefully managed transition aimed at preserving unity within the state unit of the Congress.

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