Rahul Gandhi leaves for Bengaluru to attend DK Shivakumar's oath-taking ceremony
New Delhi, June 3
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday left from the IGI airport in the national capital for Bengaluru, to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar.
Other than Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretary KC Venugopal, Karnataka Congress in charge Randeep Surjewala are also likely to attend Shivakumar's oath-taking ceremony. Several Congress Chief Ministers are also expected to mark their presence at the event.
Shivakumar will be succeeding Siddaramaiah, who held the position for the longest period in the history of the state.
Several other senior Congress MLAs are likely to take oath along with Shivakumar, including G Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, Yathindra Siddaramaiah and others.
Meanwhile, supporters of DK Shivakumar held special prayers ahead of their leader's oath-taking ceremony, whereas his Kanakapura constituency was decked up with Banners and cutouts which congratulated him for becoming Chief Minister.
After decades of political manoeuvring, crisis management, and strengthening the Congress organisation in
Karnataka, Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar, popularly known as DK Shivakumar, is set to take oath as Chief Minister after being elected as the Congress Legislative Party leader.
An eight-time MLA and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Shivakumar--often described as the party's "troubleshooter"--rose through the ranks with a strong grassroots base and a reputation for handling political crises. His close ties with senior Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge, strengthened his claim to the top post after a prolonged internal leadership discussion.
Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura, Shivakumar entered politics as a student leader in the 1980s. After an initial setback in 1985, he won his first Assembly election in 1989 at the age of 27 and went on to secure eight consecutive wins, building a strong base in Vokkaliga-dominated regions.
Known for his organisational skills, he has played key roles in safeguarding Congress governments in the past, including during the 2002 Maharashtra political crisis and the 2017 Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections. He has also been instrumental in party strategy in Karnataka, including the 2023 Assembly election victory.
Shivakumar has served as KPCC president since 2020 and was Deputy Chief Minister in the previous government. His career has also seen controversies, including multiple investigations by central agencies and a brief incarceration in 2019, though these did not derail his political rise.
A close confidante of the Gandhi family, Shivakumar is set to formally assume office as Karnataka's Chief Minister, marking a key leadership transition in the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Rahul Gandhi attending shows Congress is serious about Karnataka. But the real question is: will DKS be his own man or just implement Delhi's diktats? The Vokkaliga community has waited long for a CM from their group, so this is historic. Let's see if he brings development to Kanakapura and rural areas like he promised.
It's interesting how Rahul Gandhi keeps making these high-profile appearances at state events. But I wonder if the Congress party is just papering over internal rifts. Shivakumar vs Siddaramaiah was a battle for ages. Hope this transition is smoother than expected for Karnataka's sake.
Eight-time MLA with a criminal record and multiple ED cases now becomes CM? This is what Indian politics has come to - "troubleshooter" is just a fancy word for someone who knows how to manipulate the system. I'm not buying the hype. My family in Kanakapura says he's done some good work but also has a strong-arm reputation.
Great to see a grassroots leader finally getting recognition! DKS started as a student leader and worked his way up through sheer hard work. The banners in Kanakapura show how much people love him. But I'm cautiously optimistic - will his infamous temper and past controversies hamper his governance? Time will tell. Jai Karnataka! 🚩
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