New Delhi/Bengaluru, 3 June

Congress on Wednesday appointed senior leader BK Hariprasad as President of its Karnataka unit, succeeding DK Shivakumar, who stepped down after taking oath as Chief Minister.

A veteran Congress strategist, Hariprasad belongs to the Billava community, an Other Backward Class (OBC) group in Karnataka, and is known for championing social justice and backward class causes. He has served three terms in the Rajya Sabha representing Karnataka and is currently a Permanent Invitee to the Congress Working Committee.

He also oversees party affairs in Haryana and has held organisational responsibilities in several states.

Meanwhile, in one of his first executive decisions as Chief Minister, Shivakumar appointed retired IAS officer LK Atheeq as Financial Adviser to the Chief Minister. Atheeq will also continue as Chairman of the Bengaluru Business Corridor and will enjoy salary and allowances equivalent to those of the Chief Secretary.

Atheeq had resigned as Additional Chief Secretary to then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in June last year. Previously posted in the Finance Department, he played a key role in monitoring the implementation of the Congress government's five guarantee schemes.

Tushar Giri Nath has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, while Rajendra Cholan P has been posted as Secretary to the Chief Minister with additional charge as Managing Director of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd.