Veteran Congress leader Doddalahalli Kempegowda (D.K.) Shivakumar was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka on June 3, 2026, marking the culmination of a political journey spanning nearly four decades. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru and attended by senior Congress leaders, party workers, and dignitaries from across the country.
Popularly known as “DKShi,” the 64-year-old leader is one of Karnataka’s most influential politicians and has long been regarded as a key strategist within the Indian National Congress. Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura near Bengaluru, Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community and entered politics at a young age.
His electoral career began in 1989 when he was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Sathanur constituency. Over the years, he established himself as a strong grassroots leader and later represented Kanakapura, a constituency he has held since 2008. An eight-time MLA, Shivakumar has built a reputation for his organisational skills and ability to mobilise support during crucial political battles.
Within the Congress party, Shivakumar steadily rose through the ranks. He served in various ministerial positions, handling key portfolios such as Energy, Medical Education, and Water Resources. In 2020, he was appointed President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), a role in which he played a major part in strengthening the party’s organisation across the state. Following the Congress victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, he became Deputy Chief Minister under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Shivakumar is often credited with helping the Congress navigate some of its most challenging political moments. His role in managing party legislators during periods of political instability earned him national attention and reinforced his image as one of the Congress party’s most dependable leaders.
His elevation to the state’s top post follows the Congress Legislature Party’s decision to elect him as its leader after Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister. The transition was presented as a smooth transfer of leadership within the party, with both leaders appearing together during the swearing-in ceremony.
During Wednesday’s ceremony, Shivakumar took the oath of office and secrecy as Karnataka’s Chief Minister, while senior Congress leader G. Parameshwara was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. Several cabinet ministers also took oath alongside him, marking the beginning of a new administration in the southern state.
Notably, Shivakumar is also among India’s wealthiest politicians. Recent disclosures place his declared assets at over ₹1,400 crore, making him one of the richest Chief Ministers in the country. Despite his wealth and political stature, his rise is often portrayed as the story of a grassroots politician who steadily climbed the ranks through organisational work, electoral success, and decades of loyalty to the Congress party.
As Karnataka’s new Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar now faces the challenge of translating his political influence and organisational skills into governance, while steering one of India’s most economically significant states through its next phase of development.