Karnataka CM swearing-in: D.K. Shivakumar to be Sworn in as Karnataka's Chief Minister Today

Senior Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar is set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday evening at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru. Astrologer Dwarkanath Pandith had earlier predicted that Shivakumar would one day become Karnataka’s Chief Minister.

The swearing-in ceremony will be administered by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and is expected to be attended by several top Congress leaders from across the country. 

Congress published a list of 13 cabinet ministers who are set to take their oath alongside the Chief Minister. The Congress has chosen G. Parameshwara to be the Deputy Chief Minister, with additional names such as Yathindra Siddaramaiah, U.T. Khader, M.B. Patil, K.J. George, K.H. Muniyappa, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy, Krishna Byregowda, Priyank Kharge, Ishwar Khandre, Byrathi Suresh, and Sharan Prakash Patil.

Shivakumar chose Lok Bhavan as the venue for the ceremony instead of the steps of the Vidhan Soudha, citing concerns over traffic congestion and inconvenience to Bengaluru residents. 

The move is aimed at ensuring smooth conduct of the event while minimising disruption to the public.

Why Siddaramaiah resigned?

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stepped down on May 28, to enable a scheduled leadership change in the Congress party. He resigned after receiving orders from the Congress high command to adhere to a power-sharing arrangement that facilitated his successor, D.K. Shivakumar. 

After the Congress party won the May 2023 assembly elections, a purported agreement was established to split the Chief Minister's term between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.

Prediction turns reality for DK Shivakumar

Vedic astrologer Pandit Bellur Dwarakanath, commonly referred to as Dwarakanath Guruji, acts as a trusted mentor, and spiritual guide to D.K. Shivakumar and he had previously forecasted that Shivakumar would eventually be the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

During a video interview with PTI, Astrologer Dwarkanath Pandith said, The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, from 4 pm to 5 pm." Numerous favorable dates were accessible, but due to the unavailability of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, it was rescheduled to an earlier time. It makes sense since he hoped for the presence of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. 

He was eager for Sonia Gandhi to be present, although that might not be feasible due to her health. The date needed to be modified based on Rahul Gandhi’s itinerary and tour plans. June 3 is considered a favorable day as well. The event is expected to occur at approximately 4 pm during Tula Lagna, with Purva Nakshatra also active.

Top Congress Leaders to attend

Several senior party leaders are likely to attend the ceremony, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Kerala Congress leader V.D. Satheesan and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Ceremony for the planned Congress Bhavan

Before the swearing-in ceremony, chief minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar announced that the ruling Congress intends to conduct a bhumi puja for the planned Congress Bhavan on Race Course Road right after the oath-taking ceremony.

The Rise Of Shivakumar

D.K. Shivakumar was born to the Vokkaliga community on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura, near Bengaluru. At a young age, he stepped into politics through the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress party, and gradually became one of the strongest leaders of the Congress in Karnataka.

His political journey began with a major challenge in 1985, when he contested his first Assembly election from the Sathanur constituency against H.D. Deve Gowda and lost. 

In 1989, he became an important figure in Karnataka politics for the first time by winning the Sathanur seat. He later earned the title of “giant killer” in the state's politics for defeating members of H.D. Deve Gowda's family in their stronghold. This rivalry was quite historic, as both Shivakumar and the Gowda family hail from the influential Vokkaliga community.