Siddaramaiah’s camp mulls AHINDA meet as show of strength amid leadership speculation

Amid speculation over the replacement of the Chief Minister after completion of the mid-term of the Congress government in Karnataka, Ministers and legislators loyal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have planned to hold a convention of AHINDA (Minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits) in an attempt to express their solidarity and put pressure on the high command to declare Mr. Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister for a full five-year term.

Sources in the Congress party said AHINDA organisations, apparently backed by Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLC and son of the Chief Minister, launched the campaign by posting letters to Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in Mysuru, urging AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to declare Mr. Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister for the full term, thereby putting an end to the prevailing confusion over the change of leadership.

Dates not finalised

However, sources maintained that the date and the venue have not been finalised for holding the convention, and a decision would be taken after the Bihar election results.

A leader close to the Chief Minister maintained that Mr. Siddaramaiah was not showing keen interest in the AHINDA convention at this moment and reportedly asked the Ministers and legislators loyal to him to desist from such events. But some Ministers appeared to be keen on holding the convention to show the support of AHINDA groups to the Chief Minister and thereby send a message to the high command about possible political risks involved by replacing Mr. Siddaramaiah from the post.

Earlier too, Ministers and legislators loyal to Mr. Siddamaiah held AHINDA conventions to project him as the “undisputed” backward class leader of the State.

Message to Dalit leaders

Meanwhile, the high command has reportedly told the State Congress leaders not to hold any conventions in support of the party leader. A few days ago, it conveyed a message to Dalit leaders of the State to refrain from holding the convention.

The convention was planned by Dalit Ministers to seek the Chief Minister’s post for the Dalit leader in the event of the replacement of Mr. Siddaramaiah from the post. The Congress government would complete its half-term on November 20.

Rahul Gandhi going abroad?

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is likely to undertake a foreign tour after the Bihar elections on November 14 and is unlikely to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his visit to New Delhi on November 15.

Mr. Gandhi is expected to visit Finland for about 10 days, sources in the Congress said.

A few days ago, in Mysuru, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that he would go to Delhi on November 15 to seek the high command’s nod for the proposed Cabinet reshuffle. During his visit to the national capital, sources said. the Chief Minister is expected to meet only AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal and other central leaders of the party and discuss his plan to undertake the Cabinet reshuffle.