NEW DELHI: Karnataka's new cabinet took shape on Wednesday as DK Shivakumar was sworn in as chief minister, along with 13 other Congress MLAs as ministers. Senior leader G Parameshwara took oath as deputy chief minister. Shivakumar had held the post under his predecessor and rival, Siddaramaiah, for over two years. Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Siddaramaiah, also took oath as ministers. The allocation of portfolios will be announced later.
Profiles of the New Ministers
DK Shivakumar (Chief Minister)
Widely regarded as the Congress' trouble-shooter, Shivakumar has also served as its Karnataka unit president since 2020, a position he is now expected to vacate. He represents the Kanakapura assembly constituency and has won four consecutive elections there since 2008.
G Parameshwara (Deputy Chief Minister)
A prominent Dalit leader who was in contention for the top post before the party ultimately decided to honor its commitment to Shivakumar, Parameshwara previously served as Siddaramaiah's home minister. The Kortagere MLA has also headed the Karnataka Congress twice, serving consecutive terms for nearly eight years, making him the longest-serving occupant of the position.
KH Muniyappa
A veteran leader who won seven consecutive Lok Sabha elections from Kolar before losing in 2019. He won the 2023 Karnataka assembly polls from Devanahalli and was part of Siddaramaiah's cabinet, handling food and civil supplies, and consumer affairs.
KJ George
The MLA from Sarvagnanagar since 2013, Kelachandra Joseph George has held various ministerial posts in Congress governments in Karnataka over the years. He served as energy minister under Siddaramaiah.
MB Patil
The MLA from Babaleshwar hails from the politically significant Lingayat community. A former Lok Sabha member from Bijapur, Patil was the infrastructure development and industries minister in the previous Siddaramaiah-led government.
Ramalinga Reddy
A senior Congress leader, Reddy represents the BTM Layout constituency in Bengaluru. He has previously held key portfolios such as transport and home in Congress governments in the state.
Satish Jarkiholi
The MLA from Yemkanmardi in Belagavi district, Jarkiholi is a senior leader from north Karnataka with a strong political background. He has held ministerial roles in earlier Congress governments in the state.
Krishna Byregowda
Represents Byatarayanapura in Bengaluru and has earlier served as rural development and panchayat raj minister and as revenue minister in the previous government.
Priyank Kharge
From Chittapur in Kalaburagi district, he has previously handled IT/BT and rural development portfolios.
UT Khader
Elected from Mangaluru in coastal Karnataka, he has held multiple ministerial roles in the past and also served as Speaker of the Karnataka assembly.
Eshwar Khandre
Hailing from Bhalki in Bidar district, Khandre is a senior Congress leader from north Karnataka. He was the forest, ecology, and environment minister under Siddaramaiah.
Yathindra Siddaramaiah
From Varuna in Mysuru district, he is a first-time minister.
Byrathi Suresh
Based in Hebbal, Bengaluru, Suresh is known more for organizational responsibilities within the party and has limited prior ministerial experience. He served as the urban development and town planning minister in the Siddaramaiah government.
Sharan Prakash Patil
The Sedam legislator is a medical professional by background and has earlier served as higher education minister. He was the medical education and skill development minister in the Siddaramaiah government.
