D.K. Shivakumar, the 64-year-old Vokkaliga strongman from Kanakpura, was sworn in as Karnataka's chief minister at a ceremony at Lok Bhavan on Wednesday, marking a carefully managed transition of power from veteran Congress leader Siddaramaiah and opening a new chapter for the party in one of its most important states.
For nearly three decades, Shivakumar built a reputation as the Congress party's most reliable troubleshooter in Karnataka — a dealmaker, organiser and relentless political operator who kept the party together through defections, crises and electoral battles.
