BK Hariprasad Appointed New KPCC President, Replaces DK Shivakumar

By Bangalore Mail Political Bureau

Published: June 3, 2026

BENGALURU: In a major organizational reshuffle aimed at maintaining regional and caste balances in Karnataka, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has appointed veteran leader and Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) B.K. Hariprasad as the new President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

The 72-year-old veteran succeeds D.K. Shivakumar, who stepped down from the party’s top organizational post earlier today to assume office as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka. The high-stakes decision comes after intense internal deliberations in New Delhi, where party heavyweights weighed multiple leadership combinations to anchor the party machinery ahead of the upcoming local body and corporation elections.

The High Command’s Calculus

With D.K. Shivakumar taking the reins of administration at Lok Bhavan, the Congress high command under Mallikarjun Kharge was on the hunt for an experienced organizational hand capable of managing internal party dynamics. Highly placed sources indicate that Congress top leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi personally spoke to Hariprasad, proposing his name to lead the state unit.

While prominent leaders like Minister Satish Jarkiholi were strongly in the running for the top post, the party leadership ultimately leaned toward Hariprasad’s expansive organizational history and fierce ideological stance.

Who is B.K. Hariprasad?

A battle-tested organizational loyalist, B.K. Hariprasad brings over four decades of political experience to the table. Born on July 29, 1954, in Bengaluru, Hariprasad has historically been one of the most prominent faces of the Congress party’s national structure.

• National Stature: He has served multiple terms as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and has held crucial portfolios as the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) under various state charges.

• State Leadership: He previously served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council from 2022 to 2023.

• Ideological Anchor: Known as a vocal and uncompromising critic of the BJP, RSS, and the Narendra Modi-led Central government, Hariprasad is expected to keep the party’s ideological base heavily mobilized.

Caste and Regional Equation

The appointment of Hariprasad is a calculated move by the Congress party to solidify its support among the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Karnataka. Hariprasad belongs to the influential Billava community.

Historically, iconic leaders from the same community, such as Janardhana Poojary and former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, have successfully helmed the KPCC, steering the party through crucial electoral transitions from the Coastal and Malnad regions. By appointing Hariprasad, Congress aims to re-energize its footprint in coastal Karnataka, a region that has traditionally leaned toward the opposition.

What Lies Ahead for KPCC:

“The incoming leader must work at a rapid pace, foster collective unity, and take everyone along,” AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge had noted earlier during the selection process. With just about 24 months left in the current legislative term, Hariprasad’s immediate task will be to smoothly coordinate with the newly sworn-in CM D.K. Shivakumar’s cabinet and maintain organizational discipline across all factions.

With corporate elections to major municipal bodies on the horizon, the Hariprasad-led KPCC will have to ensure that the momentum generated during the state assembly elections translates smoothly into grassroots governance.