D. K. Shivakumar was sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka on June 3, 2026 [4].
The transition marks a new leadership phase for the state government, with the ceremony serving as a public demonstration of party unity and regional identity.
The event took place at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru, where the ceremony was scheduled for 4 p.m. [2]. Shivakumar became the 25th chief minister of the state [1]. He took the oath with a copy of the constitution in hand, while senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, attended the proceedings.
Along with the chief minister, 14 ministers were sworn in as part of the new cabinet [3]. G. Parameshwara also took the oath as deputy chief minister.
A dispute emerged regarding the music played at the start of the event. Some reports said the crowd chanted and sang the patriotic song “Vande Mataram” to mark an emotional start to the proceedings [1]. However, other reports said the Karnataka state anthem was played instead of “Vande Mataram,” which triggered a row over official protocol [2].
Despite the disagreement over the song, the ceremony proceeded with the appointment of the new administration. The gathering at Lok Bhavan focused on the formal transition of power and the establishment of the new cabinet's leadership in the state capital.
“DK Shivakumar became the 25th chief minister of the state”
The contradiction regarding the use of 'Vande Mataram' versus the state anthem reflects the ongoing tension between national identity and regional pride in Indian politics. While the swearing-in of 14 cabinet ministers establishes the administrative structure of the new government, the protocol dispute suggests that symbolic gestures at the ceremony may be scrutinized as indicators of the administration's political priorities.
