CM Siddaramaiah Honours M.P. Prakash at 86th Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah honoured former Deputy CM M.P. Prakash at his 86th birth anniversary in Hoovina Hadagali, announced a letter to rename the local government engineering college after him, and credited Prakash with founding the Hampi Utsav.
Key Takeaways
CM Siddaramaiah attended the 86th birth anniversary of former Deputy CM M.P.
Prakash in Hoovina Hadagali, Vijayanagara district on July 11, 2026 .
Siddaramaiah praised Prakash as a rare politician who could answer questions on any government department with full authority in Cabinet and the Assembly.
The Chief Minister announced he would write to the Karnataka government to rename the Hoovina Hadagali Government Engineering College after M.P.
Prakash is credited with proposing and successfully organising the inaugural Hampi Utsav by securing government funding while Siddaramaiah was overseeing the Mysore Dasara festival.
Siddaramaiah expressed that Prakash deserved to have been Chief Minister of Karnataka at least once, calling him a statesman and people's leader.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid a warm tribute to veteran politician and former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash at a birth anniversary event held in Hoovina Hadagali, Vijayanagara district, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, marking what would have been Prakash's 86th birthday. The Chief Minister recalled Prakash's extraordinary administrative knowledge and his foundational role in launching the Hampi Utsav, while announcing he would write to the state government to rename the local engineering college in Prakash's honour.
Context
M.P. Prakash served as Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister and was widely regarded across party lines for his command over government functioning. Siddaramaiah described him as 'one of those rare politicians who kept track of the activities of every department,' capable of answering questions on any subject in the Cabinet or the Legislative Assembly with complete authority.
The Chief Minister expressed that a statesman and people's leader of Prakash's calibre deserved to have been Chief Minister of Karnataka 'at least once.' He called it deeply painful that Prakash had faced criticism from some quarters when he was battling cancer.
Policy Backdrop
Siddaramaiah recalled that it was M.P. Prakash who, during the period when Siddaramaiah was organising the Mysore Dasara festival, suggested launching the Hampi Utsav as well, secured government funding for it, and successfully organised the inaugural edition of the festival. The Hampi Utsav has since grown into a flagship cultural event promoting heritage tourism around the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Hampi in north Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah announced he would personally write to the government to rename the Hoovina Hadagali Government Engineering College in Vijayanagara district after M.P. Prakash, saying: 'Through this, his name will live on permanently.'
Stakeholders and Impact
The proposed renaming of the Hoovina Hadagali Government Engineering College would directly affect students, faculty, and the local community in Vijayanagara district, a region that Prakash represented and served through much of his political career. Heritage tourism promoters and cultural organisations connected to the Hampi Utsav also stand to benefit from renewed attention to Prakash's legacy in north Karnataka.
Karnataka politicians across party lines have historically supported naming public institutions after senior leaders as a means of preserving their contributions. Siddaramaiah's tribute underscores the cross-party regard Prakash commanded, reflecting a broader pattern of honouring administrative competence beyond partisan boundaries.
What's Next
The Karnataka government is now expected to take up the formal proposal to rename the Hoovina Hadagali Government Engineering College after M.P. Prakash, following the Chief Minister's public commitment to write in support of the move. Any official order on the renaming will be closely watched by political observers and the people of Vijayanagara district.
Siddaramaiah's tribute also draws renewed attention to the Hampi Utsav and its origins, potentially prompting a fresh look at expanding the festival's scale and funding as part of the state's heritage tourism agenda in north Karnataka.
Point of View
High-visibility gesture that serves both legacy preservation and local constituency goodwill in Vijayanagara. By personally invoking the Hampi Utsav's founding story, Siddaramaiah also positions his own earlier tenure as a period of cultural institution-building, lending the tribute a dual political dividend. The remark that Prakash deserved to be Chief Minister — pointedly left unrealised — subtly critiques the political circumstances that denied him the office, adding an edge to what is otherwise a ceremonial occasion.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was M.P. Prakash and what role did he play in Karnataka politics?
M.P. Prakash was a veteran Karnataka politician who served as Deputy Chief Minister and was widely respected across party lines for his deep knowledge of government functioning across multiple departments.
What did CM Siddaramaiah announce at M.P. Prakash's birth anniversary?
CM Siddaramaiah announced he would write to the Karnataka government to rename the Hoovina Hadagali Government Engineering College in Vijayanagara district after M.P. Prakash, so that his name lives on permanently.
What is the Hampi Utsav and what was M.P. Prakash's role in it?
The Hampi Utsav is a cultural festival held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in north Karnataka. M.P. Prakash is credited with proposing the festival, securing government funding for it, and successfully organising its inaugural edition.
Where was M.P. Prakash's 86th birth anniversary event held?
The 86th birth anniversary event was held in Hoovina Hadagali, Vijayanagara district, Karnataka, on July 11, 2026.
Why did Siddaramaiah say M.P. Prakash should have been Chief Minister of Karnataka?
Siddaramaiah called Prakash a statesman and people's leader of rare calibre, saying such a dedicated and knowledgeable politician deserved to have become Chief Minister of Karnataka at least once during his career.
