Congress High Command Likely to Appoint B.K. Hariprasad as Next KPCC Chief
Sources suggest it is almost certain that veteran Congress leader BK Hariprasad will inherit the KPCC throne, which was spearheaded by DK Shivakumar for years.
Bengaluru: Following the formation of the new government in Karnataka, the suspense surrounding the first phase of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s cabinet has finally ended. Now, all eyes have shifted to national-level discussions regarding who will lead the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) next.
Sources suggest it is almost certain that veteran Congress leader BK Hariprasad will inherit the KPCC throne, which was spearheaded by DK Shivakumar for years. Following Siddaramaiah’s resignation from the Chief Minister’s post, DK Shivakumar was elected as the new Chief Minister, paving the way for a leadership transition within the state party unit.
Why Satish Jarkiholi Missed Out:
With DK Shivakumar set to vacate the party chief’s post, senior leader Satish Jarkiholi’s name was initially at the forefront. The party high command was even ready to hand over the reins to him. However, Jarkiholi put forward a strict condition that he must be given a ministerial berth alongside the KPCC president post.
Jarkiholi’s political calculation was that being solely the KPCC chief might loosen his political grip on his home turf, Belagavi. Meanwhile, another senior leader, Dr. G. Parameshwara, focused his efforts on demanding the deputy Chief minister (DCM) post and did not show much interest in leading the party unit.
High Command Directs BK Hariprasad:
Left with these equations, the Congress high command has turned to veteran leader BK Hariprasad to head the state unit. Reports indicate that the top brass has already given a green signal and communicated its directive to Hariprasad.
Earlier, Hariprasad’s name was doing the rounds for a Rajya Sabha seat, given his excellent rapport with national leaders. However, Rahul Gandhi reportedly calculated that since Hariprasad is already a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), he should be retained in state politics to strengthen the local unit.
BK Hariprasad brings several distinct advantages to the table for the Congress party, starting with his closeness to the high command. He shares a deeply trusted relationship with the Gandhi family and holds vast organizational experience.
Furthermore, he commands significant community influence as a highly influential leader representing the Billava community of the coastal region and the Ediga community of the Malnad region.
Finally, he possesses a strong organizational grip; though there were initially rumors that he might become the Home Minister in DK Shivakumar’s cabinet, the high command has ultimately finalized him for the KPCC president post.
Congress leaders believe that Hariprasad’s strong influence across the coastal belt, Malnad, and several other districts, combined with his direct access to Delhi, will give a massive boost to the party’s grassroots organization in Karnataka.
