BK Hariprasad is likely to become the president of KPCC

Congress leader BK Hariprasad with former KPCC president DK Shivakumar in New Delhi on June 1, 2026. | Photo credit: The Hindu

Veteran Congress president and MLC BK Hariprasad, 72, is likely to be named the next president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

However, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has not yet made an official announcement.

If appointed, Mr. Hariprasad will replace DK Shivakumar, who is scheduled to take over as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) evening at the Lok Bhavan. Reports suggest that MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi spoke to Mr. Hariprasad and suggested his name for the post.

A vocal critic of the Modi government

Mr. Hariprasad is currently serving as an MLC and his tenure is set to end this month. He is known to be a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government, the BJP and the RSS. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha and held several positions within the AICC.

Hariprasad belonging to the Billava community (OBC) was born on 29 July 1954. Prominent leaders Janardhana Poojary and S. Bangarappa, who also belonged to the Billava community and served as KPCC presidents, hailed from coastal Karnataka and Malnad.

Mr. Hariprasad was the United Opposition’s candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker of the Rajya Sabha but lost to Harivansh Narayan Singh of the NDA.

He also contested the 1999 Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru South and was defeated by BJP leader and former Union Minister late Ananth Kumar.

Former minister Satish Jarkiholi also lobbied for the post of KPCC president but seems to have lost to Mr. Hariprasad.

Published – 03 Jun 2026 11:53 IST