How D-Day unfolded for DKS, which crossed the political divide

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar receives blessings from JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda before the swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru on Wednesday (June 3). | Photo credit: ANI

The day began with a series of symbolic political gestures for newly-minted Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. It felt as personal as it did political. He spent the first few hours of the morning making phone calls to a shortlist of MLAs to be sworn in with him.

He asked for his mother’s blessing before leaving for the venue. Family members played a visible role behind the scenes. His daughter Aishwarya and brother DK Suresh personally supervised the arrangements and coordinated with the organizers as the guests started arriving in large numbers.

The new chief minister chose to take the oath wearing traditional silk attire – silk panche, jhubba and stole – reflecting the cultural symbolism of Kannada.

Political differences aside

Political differences aside, Mr. Shivakumar personally called on former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to invite them to the ceremony.

The visit to Mr. Deve Gowda’s residence attracted special attention given the Congress leader’s long-standing political rivalry with the JD(S) in the Old Mysore region.

After meeting Mr. Yediyurappa, Mr. Shivakumar struck a conciliatory note. “They led the state, worked for the state and contributed to the state. We all have to work together,” he said.

Welcoming the Congress leadership

The presence of the Congress High Command added significance to the occasion. While Mr. Shivakumar urged outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to personally invite him, he left for HAL airport to receive Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and escort them to the venue.

The arrival of the leaders drew loud cheers from party workers gathered outside the airport and along the route to Lok Bhavan. Mr. Gandhi and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal greeted Mr. Shivakumar with warm hugs.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Shivakumar said Congress leader Sonia Gandhi wished him over the phone. “I assured her that I would bring everyone together,” he later told reporters.

Chief ministers from the Congress-ruled states of Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala were also present at the ceremony, underscoring the national significance the party attaches to the event.

While supporters gathered near his house since morning to wish and greet him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy wished Mr Shivakumar soon after he assumed office.

Gathering of Faiths

One of the notable features of the ceremony was the presence of more than 50 diviners and religious leaders representing various faiths and traditions. The gathering included Hindu seers, Muslim ulema, Christian priests and representatives of other religious communities.

Before the ceremony, Mr. Shivakumar personally greeted many of them with flowers and garlands and sought their blessings. Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt graced him with a Bhairava garland while Niranjanananda Puri Swami wrapped him in a traditional black shawl.

He also took blessings from former Chief Minister SM Krishna’s wife, Infosys founder Narayan Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy.

Published – 03 Jun 2026 20:09 IST