Mysuru: Following indications that chief minister Siddaramaiah could step down, the AHINDA bloc — an acronym representing minorities, backward classes and dalits — appears disappointed.Netas from these communities believe that if Siddaramaiah distances himself from active politics, it could open the door for the BJP-JD(S) alliance to make inroads into Congress’ traditional vote bank among the backward classes.At the same time, political circles within Congress are abuzz with speculation that the party may look beyond senior party functionaries such as HC Mahadevappa and K Venkatesh, and instead promote a younger face like Darshan Dhruvanarayan, a first-time MLA from Nanjangud, in line with the party’s recent experiment in Kerala.With Siddaramaiah continuing to wield significant influence in the Old Mysuru region, it remains to be seen how Congress plans to fill the vacuum once he exits the big stage.According to Backward Classes Awareness Forum convener KS Shivaramu, Congress returned to power in Karnataka in 2023 with the support of AHINDA voters. “We are all eagerly waiting for the Karnataka Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (popularly known as the ‘Caste Census’) data. A change of CM may put this report into cold storage,” he said.“The day Siddaramaiah resigns from his post, it will be a Black Day for AHINDA,” he said, adding: “Congress came to power, placating the idea of social justice. However, except Siddaramaiah, there is no CM from AHINDA communities in the country. Now removing him from the CM post in Karnataka will be a grave injustice.”Meanwhile, Congress leaders from Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts are abuzz with the possibility of new faces from these two districts in the new cabinet once there is a change of guard.A senior Congress functionary explained that AICC is likely to adopt the Kerala model in Karnataka, too. “It is likely to be a mix of experience and youth,” he said. “However, the question is how Congress plugs the power vacuum, following Siddaramaiah’s exit. There is no pan-Old Mysuru region leader who wields the kind of political influence that Siddaramaiah does,” he pointed out.“The BJP-JD(S) alliance is waiting for an opening in the Old Mysuru region. Congress must be very careful,” he cautioned.Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Badagalapura Nagendra urged Siddaramaiah to remain in active in politics. “He is a neta born out of mass movements. We won’t find such a leader in the near future. So, he must remain in active, electoral politics,” he said. “His likely exit comes as a shock,” he added.According to Krishna R Hombal, head of the University of Mysore (UoM) department of political science, Congress must bring new faces and infuse dynamism into the cabinet in the coming days. “Too many deputy CMs may result in more power centres within the govt, affecting its functioning,” he warned.
