CM Siddaramaiah Hails B.K. Hariprasad as New KPCC Chief
Synopsis
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah addressed the swearing-in of B.K. Hariprasad as KPCC president on 21 June 2026, praising his five-decade Congress service, accusing the BJP of undermining India's pluralism since 2014, and urging workers to run district, taluk, and booth-level awareness camps.
Key Takeaways
Hariprasad was sworn in as KPCC president on 21 June 2026 .
Hariprasad joined Congress in 1972 and has served the party for nearly five decades .
He previously served as student leader, youth Congress leader overseeing multiple states, and Seva Dal president.
CM Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of attempting to divide India on lines of religion, caste, and culture since coming to power in 2014 .
Siddaramaiah called on Congress workers to spread awareness about the party's history, freedom struggle role, and constitutional values.
The Chief Minister urged the party to organise camps at district , taluk , and booth levels across Karnataka.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, 21 June 2026, addressed the swearing-in ceremony of B.K. Hariprasad as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), praising Hariprasad's five-decade journey from a grassroots worker to the party's top state post and calling on all Congress workers to rally behind him.
Context
B.K. Hariprasad began his association with the Indian National Congress in 1972 as an ordinary worker from a common family. Over nearly five decades, he rose through the ranks — serving as a student leader, a youth Congress leader overseeing multiple states, and as president of the Seva Dal, the Congress party's volunteer wing. Siddaramaiah described the appointment as a recognition of Hariprasad's 'loyalty, ideological commitment, and service across many positions as a Congress worker.'
In his address, the Chief Minister said: 'Hariprasad has come from an ordinary family. He began his struggle in Congress in 1972 as a common worker and has served the party faithfully for nearly five decades. His loyalty and ideological commitment have enabled him to rise to this height today. I once again congratulate him.'
Policy Backdrop
Siddaramaiah used the occasion to sharpen his critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that since the party came to power at the centre in 2014, it has made attempts to damage India's pluralism. 'India is made up of many castes, religions, and cultures. Protecting and respecting this pluralism is absolutely essential,' he said. He accused the BJP of 'dividing the country in the name of religion, caste, and culture.'
The Chief Minister also pointed to what he called an awareness deficit among citizens about Congress's history, its role in the freedom struggle, and the foundational objectives of the Constitution. He urged workers to take up the task of educating the public on these themes.
Stakeholders and Impact
The address was directed squarely at KPCC workers and the broader Congress organisational network across Karnataka. Siddaramaiah called on all party workers to stand firmly behind Hariprasad and work to implement the party's ideology and the core aspirations of the Constitution. He framed Hariprasad's new responsibility as both an honour and a challenge, given the current political environment.
The Chief Minister specifically urged workers to take the party's outreach one step further by conducting camps at the district level, taluk level, and booth level — a signal that organisational consolidation at the grassroots is a priority for the Karnataka unit heading into future electoral cycles.
What's Next
With B.K. Hariprasad now heading the KPCC, attention will turn to how swiftly the party rolls out the proposed district, taluk, and booth-level training and awareness camps that Siddaramaiah outlined. The state BJP unit is expected to respond to the Congress narrative on pluralism and constitutional values. The effectiveness of Hariprasad's organisational outreach will be a key indicator of Congress's readiness for future elections in Karnataka.
Point of View
The Congress is projecting continuity and ideological discipline at a time when the party is rebuilding after years of electoral setbacks. The explicit attack on BJP over pluralism since 2014 follows a well-worn Congress script, but the call for booth-level camps suggests the party is trying to convert rhetoric into organisational muscle. Hariprasad's profile — rooted in Seva Dal and youth Congress rather than dynastic networks — could help the KPCC connect with rank-and-file workers. How quickly the proposed grassroots camps materialise will be the real test of whether this appointment signals genuine organisational renewal.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is B.K. Hariprasad and why was he appointed KPCC president?
B.K. Hariprasad is a veteran Congress leader who joined the party in 1972 and served for nearly five decades in roles including student leader, youth Congress leader, and Seva Dal president. He was appointed KPCC president in recognition of his long organisational service and ideological commitment, as stated by CM Siddaramaiah at the swearing-in ceremony on 21 June 2026 .
What did Siddaramaiah say about the BJP at the KPCC event?
CM Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of attempting to damage India's pluralism since it came to power at the centre in 2014 , alleging the party was 'dividing the country in the name of religion, caste, and culture.' He called on Congress workers to defend constitutional values and India's diverse social fabric.
What is the Seva Dal and what role did Hariprasad play in it?
The Seva Dal is the volunteer wing of the Indian National Congress , with roots going back to the pre-independence period. B.K. Hariprasad served as its president, one of several senior organisational roles he held over his nearly five-decade Congress career.
What organisational steps did Siddaramaiah announce for the KPCC?
CM Siddaramaiah urged Congress workers to organise awareness camps at the district , taluk , and booth levels across Karnataka, focusing on educating citizens about Congress's history, its role in the freedom struggle, and the foundational objectives of the Constitution.
