Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan attended birth centenary celebrations of former Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on August 29, 2026. The event marked 100 years since Hegde’s birth and brought together several state and national leaders to remember his contributions to governance and public life.
What Hegde stood for, according to the Vice President
The Vice President described Hegde as a statesman, nationalist and developer of other leaders. He highlighted three key aspects of Hegde’s political work:
- Decentralisation: Hegde had pushed the Karnataka Zilla Parishads, Taluk Panchayat Samitis, Mandal Panchayats and Nyaya Panchayats Act of 1985. This law moved decision-making power away from the state capital and closer to ordinary citizens. The Vice President noted this vision was later strengthened by India’s 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which gave formal constitutional standing to local elected bodies called Panchayati Raj Institutions.
- Accountability: Hegde had worked to strengthen Karnataka’s Lokayukta, the agency that investigates wrongdoing by public officials. The Vice President said Hegde believed public office meant holding people’s trust as stewards, not as personal positions.
- Citizen participation: The Vice President quoted Hegde’s belief that strong states strengthen India, strong local governments strengthen states, and empowered citizens strengthen local government.
The Vice President also shared a personal memory of Hegde’s simple outlook on money: a comfortable home, good health, good schooling and a reliable car—nothing more was needed. He said this showed Hegde’s straightforward view of life.
The Vice President called Hegde a builder of institutions rather than merely a leader of moments. He urged younger people to follow Hegde’s example of honesty, bravery and service to the nation.
Who attended
The celebrations included Karnataka’s current Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Hegde’s family members and associates.