Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday, bringing to an end years of political speculation and marking a major leadership transition in the southern state.
Popularly known as DKS, the 64-year-old leader’s elevation comes after a prolonged wait and nearly three years of internal discussions within the Congress over a possible change in leadership following the party’s return to power in Karnataka in 2023.
Shivakumar succeeded veteran Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who had headed the government since the party’s emphatic Assembly victory. Though Shivakumar was widely seen as one of the principal architects of that victory, the Congress leadership had then chosen Siddaramaiah for the top post, reportedly balancing caste equations and legislative support.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new chief minister and in a post on X, he assured that the Centre will work closely with the Karnataka Government for the welfare of the people.
For several months thereafter, Karnataka politics remained dominated by speculation over an alleged rotational leadership arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. While supporters of Shivakumar repeatedly pressed for a transition, the Congress leadership publicly dismissed such reports, maintaining that no formal agreement existed.
The leadership change gained momentum following a series of consultations between senior Congress leaders in New Delhi and Bengaluru, eventually paving the way for Shivakumar to assume office.
Shivakumar’s rise to the top position is being viewed within the party as recognition of his longstanding role as one of Congress’s most dependable political managers.
Over the years, he built a reputation as a crisis handler, stepping in during several politically sensitive situations. In 2017, he played a key role in managing Congress legislators during the Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat involving senior leader Ahmed Patel. He was again at the centre of efforts to keep the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition intact after Karnataka’s hung Assembly verdict in 2018.
In 2019, Shivakumar made national headlines when he attempted to persuade rebel Congress and JD(S) legislators in Mumbai to return amid a political crisis that eventually toppled the coalition government.
Despite facing legal challenges, including a money laundering case that led to his arrest in 2019, Shivakumar remained an influential figure within the party. Congress leaders continued to entrust him with organisational and electoral responsibilities.
As Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Shivakumar is also credited with rebuilding the party’s grassroots network after the Congress suffered setbacks in the 2019 parliamentary elections. Party insiders believe his organisational strategy and outreach among key communities played a crucial role in the Congress victory in the 2023 Assembly polls.
Political observers say Shivakumar now faces the challenge of maintaining unity between rival factions within the Congress, delivering on governance commitments and preparing the party for the 2028 Assembly elections.
For now, however, his swearing-in marks the culmination of a long political journey from party organiser to the state’s top elected office.
