With DK Shivakumar sworn in as CM, Kanakapura celebrates one of its own
Against the backdrop of the hills surrounding Kanakapura in Bengaluru South district, tethered balloons bearing the faces of State Congress leaders floated in the sky, greeting visitors with felicitations for DK Shivakumar.
A celebratory atmosphere engulfed Kanakapura and surrounding villages on Wednesday (June 3) as their local man, Mr. Shivakumar, popularly known as ‘Kanakapurada Bande’, was sworn in as the Chief Minister.
The streets were flooded with banners and flexes with congratulatory messages for Mr. Shivakumar. Supporters intercepted almost every vehicle plying on Kanakapura Road to distribute sweets and in no house in the region, especially in Doddalahalli, where the new chief minister hails from, did TVs go off.
“The feeling of one of us rising to the head of the state is nothing less than being in that chair alone. We have watched him grow and today he has made us all proud,” said K. Timmaiah, a resident of Doddalahalli.
Nearly 400 people from Doddalahalli and other villages of Kanakapura, #DKShivakumar‘s home turf, are on their way #Bengaluru to witness the solemn oath. They plan to travel to Thalaghattapura by buses and then by metro to Vidhana Soudha.
📹: @Chetan_Gowda18pic.twitter.com/jFurzr2lK8
— The Hindu-Bengaluru (@THBengaluru) June 3, 2026
On the way to Bengaluru
On the other hand, hundreds of people wanted to catch a glimpse of their leader in person as Chief Minister and therefore arranged to travel to Bengaluru.
Srinivas KT, a resident of Kodihalli, said, “More than 500 people are traveling to Bengaluru by bus and we will all get down to Challaghat, where we have prepared a non-vegetarian lunch for the supporters. After that, we will go to see our leader.”
Asked if Mr Shivakumar had directed them not to visit Bengaluru, Mr Srinivas said: “We will try our luck and see. We don’t know when we will have the same opportunity again.”
Man of the Temples
Mr. Shivakumar’s devout faith is no secret. But what many villagers don’t know is that the Congress leader helped build at least 10 temples within the limits of Kodihalli panchayat itself. On Wednesday, all these temples performed special poojas for Mr. Shivakumar. Temples in Kanakapur also arranged extensive meals for the devotees.
Interestingly, most of the villages in the region have erected small makeshift tents with pictures of Mr. Shivakumar and his brother Mr. Suresh.
“Mr Shivakumar is a busy man and hence he ensures that all the work in Kanakapur is done through Mr Suresh. He remembers the names of almost 80% of the villagers, so much of Mr Shivakumar’s success must also be attributed to Mr Suresh,” said Mr Timmaiah.
The swearing moment
Arrangements were made with LED screens at several intersections for villagers to watch the oath-taking ceremony in groups. The largest of these was established at Channabasappa circle in Kanakapura town where hundreds of supporters gathered.
As Mr. Shivakumar began to take the oath, slogans lauding him erupted, followed by bursting of crackers. Villagers sat on the busy street of Kanakapura and watched as Mr. Shivakumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state.
Published – 03 Jun 2026 21:29 IST