Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has formally invited DK Shivakumar to form the next state government and take oath as Chief Minister on June 3, 2026, at 4:05 PM at Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru — marking a significant transition in the state’s political leadership.
Governor invites Shivakumar to form government
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday, May 30, 2026, officially invited former Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to form the new government in the state. The Governor’s invitation came after Shivakumar visited Lok Bhavan and submitted a formal letter staking his claim to form the government, following his unanimous election as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).
In his official communication, Governor Gehlot wrote: “I am in receipt of your letter dated 30th May, 2026 staking claim to form the Government. I invite you to take the oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka along with team members. The oath ceremony will take place at 04:05 PM on 3rd June, 2026, in Lok Bhavan premises.”
CLP meeting: Shivakumar elected unanimously
Earlier in the day, the Karnataka Congress Legislature Party held a meeting at Vidhana Soudha, where Shivakumar was unanimously elected as the new CLP leader. Outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed Shivakumar’s name for the top post, while senior Congress leader Dr G. Parameshwar seconded the proposal. The resolution was passed without opposition.
AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal formally announced that Shivakumar had been elected as the new Congress Legislature Party leader and would be sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Shivakumar’s letter to the Governor
In his letter to the Governor staking his claim, Shivakumar stated that the Karnataka Congress Legislature Party — comprising 135 members of the Indian National Congress, two associate members, and one MLA from the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha — had unanimously elected him as the CLP leader on May 30, 2026. He formally requested the Governor to administer the oath of office to him as Chief Minister and to others as members of the Council of Ministers on June 3 at Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah’s tenure ends after three years
The Congress government in Karnataka has completed three years in office. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accompanied Shivakumar to Lok Bhavan along with other senior state leaders, signalling a smooth leadership transition within the party. Discussions on the composition of the new Council of Ministers are reportedly ongoing.
Who is DK Shivakumar?
DK Shivakumar, also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, served as the deputy chief minister in the Siddaramaiah government. He is a senior Congress leader from the Vokkaliga community and has been a prominent figure in Karnataka politics for over three decades. His elevation to Chief Minister marks the culmination of his long-standing ambition and political journey within the Congress party.
Swearing-in ceremony: June 3 at Lok Bhavan
The swearing-in ceremony for DK Shivakumar and his Council of Ministers is officially scheduled for June 3, 2026, at 4:05 PM at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. The event is expected to be attended by senior Congress leaders from across the country, along with chief ministers of other Congress-ruled states.
Source: UNI