Bengaluru:- State Congress president D.K. Shivakumar took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at the Lok Bhawan here.
D.K. Shivakumar took the oath in the name of his revered saint "Gangadhar Aja" holding a copy of the Constitution in his hand. Along with him, 13 other ministers, including a Deputy Chief Minister (Deputy CM), also took the oath of office.
Shivakumar, a strong leader of the Vokaliga community, 64, was elected the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka on May 30, after Siddaramaiah resigned from the Chief Minister's post on May 28.
Shivakumar had earlier served as the Deputy Chief Minister under Siddaramaiah.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, AICC General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states, several top Congress leaders, dignitaries and invited guests were present at the oath-taking ceremony.
Besides this, religious leaders of all major communities, including heads of various mutts, were also present. Senior Congress leader G Parameshwara took oath as a minister in DK Shivakumar's cabinet. Parameshwara is set to be nominated as Deputy CM.