Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad was on Wednesday appointed president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), succeeding D K Shivakumar, who stepped down from the post after assuming office as chief minister.
The appointment was approved by the Congress high command and takes immediate effect, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said in a statement.
Hariprasad’s appointment comes after Shivakumar completed a six-year stint as KPCC president, during which he played a pivotal role in strengthening the party organisation and leading the Congress back to power in Karnataka.
By entrusting Hariprasad with the responsibility, the Congress has signalled its emphasis on OBC representation in the party’s leadership structure. A prominent leader from the Billava community, Hariprasad is known for his long association with the Congress organisation.
Born on July 29, 1954, Hariprasad began his political career through the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and later rose through the ranks of the Youth Congress and the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
He served as vice-president of the All India Youth Congress during 1989-90 and held the post of AICC general secretary from 2006 to 2018. He has also represented Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha on four occasions.
Considered a trusted leader of the Congress high command, Hariprasad has handled organisational and election responsibilities in several states and served as the party’s in-charge for key regions, including Haryana.
A member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, he also served as Leader of the Opposition in the Council between 2022 and 2023.
Party leaders believe his appointment will help strengthen the Congress organisation in Karnataka ahead of future electoral challenges.
