B K Hariprasad takes over as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jun 4, 2026: Senior Congress leader and MLC B K Hariprasad, 71, on Wednesday assumed charge as the 23rd Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, marking the return of an OBC leader to the post after 23 years.

A press release issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) stated that party president has appointed Hariprasad as KPCC chief with immediate effect. “The party appreciates the contribution of the outgoing PCC president D K Shivakumar,” the statement dated June 3, 2026, signed by AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, said.

A prominent Billava leader from Bengaluru, Hariprasad’s elevation comes at a politically significant moment, coinciding with Shivakumar’s swearing-in as the 24th Chief Minister of Karnataka. The Congress is seen as reinforcing its Ahinda social coalition strategy following the exit of Siddaramaiah from the top post. The last OBC KPCC president was Janardhan Poojary, also from the Billava community, who held the position in 2003.

A long-time loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Hariprasad has been associated with the Congress since 1972, rising through the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Youth Congress. He served as NSUI general secretary (1979–81) and All India Youth Congress vice-president (1989–90).

Over the years, he held several organisational roles, including AICC joint secretary (1997–98), chairman of the All India Congress Seva Dal (2000–01), AICC secretary (2001–06), and AICC general secretary (2006–18). Within the party organisation, he has handled responsibilities across multiple states, including Gujarat, Puducherry, Goa, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and others.

Hariprasad was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1990, 2004, 2013 and 2014. During his parliamentary tenure, he served on several key committees, including defence, external affairs, finance, and home affairs, and represented India at international forums such as the United Nations and Geneva-based bodies.

Known as an organisation-focused leader, he contested Bengaluru South twice but lost to BJP leaders H N Ananth Kumar in 1999 and Tejasvi Surya in 2019. A vocal critic of the BJP and RSS, Hariprasad is seen within the party as an assertive face who aligns closely with Shivakumar’s camp and has often advocated stronger political representation for OBC communities in line with the Congress’ broader national strategy.

His relations with Siddaramaiah were strained during the latter’s tenure after he was denied a Cabinet berth. In later remarks, he had also criticised Siddaramaiah’s ideological positioning, saying: “Someone who wears a panche, a Hublot watch and a khaki chaddi inside cannot be a socialist.”

With his long organisational experience, proximity to the central leadership, and strong presence in OBC politics, Hariprasad’s appointment is also seen as part of the party’s internal balancing of regional and factional interests. His immediate challenges include managing intra-party factions, strengthening coordination between the government and organisation, balancing caste equations, and preparing the Congress for upcoming local body elections and the 2028 Assembly polls.