CM Siddaramaiah Unveils M.P. Prakash Statue on 86th Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled a statue of former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash at Hoovina Hadagali in Vijayanagara district on 11 July 2026, marking the veteran leader's 86th birth anniversary and recalling their shared roots in Karnataka's socialist and Janata movements.
Key Takeaways
CM Siddaramaiah unveiled a statue of former Deputy CM M.P.
Prakash at Hoovina Hadagali, Vijayanagara district on 11 July 2026 .
The event marked M.P.
Prakash's 86th birth anniversary , with 15 years having passed since his death.
Uma Prakash , wife of the late leader, personally invited the Chief Minister to perform the unveiling.
Both leaders shared early political careers in the Socialist Party and later the Janata Party during the 1970s .
Prakash was first elected to the Karnataka assembly in 1978 and won again in 1983 , when he and Siddaramaiah served together as MLAs.
Siddaramaiah described Prakash as 'an honest, value-driven, people-centric leader' whose loss was felt by all of Karnataka.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, 11 July 2026, unveiled a statue of former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash at Hoovina Hadagali in Vijayanagara district, marking what would have been the veteran leader's 86th birth anniversary. The event was organised by Uma Prakash, wife of the late leader, who personally invited the Chief Minister to perform the unveiling.
Context
Sharing his remarks from the ceremony on X, Siddaramaiah described the occasion as a personal honour, writing that it was his 'good fortune' to have been given the opportunity to unveil the statue of such a senior politician. He noted that 15 years have passed since M.P. Prakash passed away, and that his death was a loss not just for his family but for the entire state of Karnataka — which lost, in his words, 'an honest, value-driven, and people-centric leader.'
The Chief Minister also recalled that M.P. Prakash was six to seven years his senior and described him as a 'gentleman, a value-based politician, and one who had no enemies' — a rare combination in public life.
Policy Backdrop
M.P. Prakash and Siddaramaiah share a long political lineage rooted in Karnataka's socialist and Janata movements of the 1970s. Both were members of the Socialist Party before the post-Emergency consolidation that gave rise to the Janata Party. Siddaramaiah recounted that it was Prof. Nanjundaswamy who inducted him into the Socialist Party, at which point M.P. Prakash was already one of its prominent leaders.
M.P. Prakash was first elected to the Karnataka assembly in 1978 as a Janata Party candidate. Siddaramaiah noted that he too was in the Janata Party at the time but could not contest that election due to not receiving a ticket. After an intervening defeat, Prakash returned to the assembly by winning the 1983 Karnataka assembly election. It was at this point that Siddaramaiah, elected as an independent MLA, had the opportunity to serve alongside him in the legislature.
Stakeholders and Impact
The ceremony at Hoovina Hadagali brought together politicians and residents of Vijayanagara district to honour a leader who served as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. For the political community, the event reinforces a recurring Karnataka tradition of cross-party homage to veterans of the Janata and socialist movements — leaders who built their reputations on principled, people-first politics during a turbulent national era.
Uma Prakash's initiative in organising the statue unveiling and inviting the sitting Chief Minister reflects the continued social and political standing of M.P. Prakash's legacy in the region. Siddaramaiah's participation, and his detailed public tribute, signal the personal weight he attaches to this shared political history.
What's Next
Events like this one — marking Janata-era anniversaries with statues and public commemorations — are likely to continue as Karnataka's political class approaches foundation-day programmes and assembly sessions where the legacy of value-based politics is frequently invoked. The broader pattern of leaders across party lines paying tribute to shared socialist roots may also surface in upcoming Karnataka assembly debates and party commemorative calendars.
Point of View
The Chief Minister positions himself within a lineage of principled, non-dynastic politics at a time when Congress is navigating questions of ideology and internal credibility in Karnataka. The cross-party nature of such tributes also signals a political culture in the state where veterans of the 1970s movements command respect that transcends current affiliations. This pattern is worth watching as Karnataka approaches future electoral cycles and the ruling party seeks to consolidate its moral-authority narrative.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was M.P. Prakash and why is he being honoured?
M.P. Prakash was a former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, known for his integrity and value-based politics. He was honoured with a statue unveiling at Hoovina Hadagali on his 86th birth anniversary on 11 July 2026 .
Where was the statue of M.P. Prakash unveiled?
The statue was unveiled at Hoovina Hadagali in Vijayanagara district , Karnataka, during a ceremony organised by his wife Uma Prakash .
What is the connection between Siddaramaiah and M.P. Prakash?
Both leaders shared early political careers in the Socialist Party and the Janata Party in the 1970s . They later served together as MLAs in the Karnataka assembly after the 1983 elections.
When did M.P. Prakash first win a Karnataka assembly election?
M.P. Prakash was first elected to the Karnataka assembly in 1978 as a Janata Party candidate. After a subsequent defeat, he won again in the 1983 assembly election.
Who invited CM Siddaramaiah to unveil the statue?
Uma Prakash , the wife of the late M.P. Prakash , personally invited Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to unveil the statue at the birth anniversary ceremony.
