Congress leader D K Shivakumar on Wednesday took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. Thirteen ministers were also sworn in alongside him, marking the formation of a new Congress government in the state. Among those inducted into the cabinet was Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The leadership change follows a prolonged power-sharing arrangement within the Congress. After the party returned to power in Karnataka in May 2023, an understanding was reportedly reached between its two top leaders, Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar, to divide the five-year term and serve as Chief Minister for part of the tenure each. Shivakumar’s swearing-in marks the next phase of that arrangement and a significant political transition in the state.