DK Shivakumar Oath Ceremony Live Updates: Shivakumar era begins in Karnataka; deputy CM Parmeshwara, 12 ministers take oath

DK Shivakumar was sworn in as Karnataka’s 34th chief minister on Wednesday at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy, with Shivakumar taking the oath in the name of revered seer Gangadhar Ajja while holding a copy of the Constitution.The 64-year-old Congress leader, who previously served as deputy chief minister under Siddaramaiah, was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party on May 30 following Siddaramaiah’s resignation two days earlier. Alongside Shivakumar, senior Congress leader G Parameshwara was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, while 12 other ministers joined the new cabinet.The ceremony drew a host of senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. Chief ministers from Congress-ruled states, including Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, were also in attendance, along with religious leaders from various communities and heads of prominent maths.Ahead of the ceremony, Shivakumar sought blessings from religious leaders and paid respects to his mother. He also revealed that senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had telephoned to congratulate him and urged him to take everyone along. Shivakumar said he assured her that he would work inclusively and carry all sections of the party with him.Several Congress leaders welcomed the transition, with Sukhu expressing confidence that Shivakumar would continue the policies implemented under Siddaramaiah. Congress MP Rajeev Shukla described him as a dynamic leader and praised the smooth transfer of power, calling it an important moment for both the party and Karnataka.