B.K. Hariprasad takes charge as KPCC President

Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad formally assumed charge as the new president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at a ceremony held at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar symbolically handed over the party flag to Hariprasad, marking the transfer of leadership of the state Congress unit.

Addressing party workers after taking charge, Hariprasad said the Congress party stood for constitutional values, secularism and social justice.

He urged party supporters not to spend money on garlands and shawls in his honour and instead contribute those funds to strengthen the party organisation.

Accusing the BJP of practising religion-based politics, Hariprasad called upon Congress workers to stand with marginalised sections of society and actively participate in struggles concerning the oppressed.

He also stressed the need for vigilance against forces seeking to weaken the party and said communal politics should not be allowed to gain ground.

Speaking at the event, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said Hariprasad was chosen for the post after consultations within the party leadership.

Kharge described him as a leader who had risen through the ranks of the organisation and possessed the ability to unite leaders and workers across sections.

He said the Congress had always valued organisational discipline and emphasised that no individual was bigger than the party.

Reflecting on his long political career, Kharge said leaders may grow through the Congress, but the party's strength comes from collective efforts and commitment to its ideology.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah congratulated Hariprasad on assuming the new role and thanked Shivakumar for his tenure as KPCC president.

Siddaramaiah said Hariprasad's political journey, which began as a grassroots Congress worker in the early 1970s, reflected decades of commitment and service to the party.

He noted that Hariprasad had served in various organisational positions, including as a student leader, Youth Congress functionary, state in-charge and Seva Dal leader, before being entrusted with the responsibility of leading the state unit.

Several senior Congress leaders and ministers attended the event, including Randeep Singh Surjewala, Veerappa Moily, K. H. Muniyappa, K. J. George, M. B. Patil, Priyank Kharge and several MPs, MLAs and party office-bearers.