Siddaramaiah loyalists hold closed-door meeting, plan letter campaign and massive AHINDA rally to counter leadership change buzz

Belagavi: Even as the winter session of the Karnataka legislature concluded in Belagavi, a politically significant development has stirred fresh speculation about the state’s leadership dynamics.

A closed-door “dinner meeting” of ministers loyal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was held at the residence of Public Works Minister Satish Jarakiholi in Kuvempu Nagar, Belagavi, signalling a coordinated counter-move amid growing buzz about a possible leadership change.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself, along with senior ministers and leaders considered part of his core support base, including Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Health Minister M C Sudhakar and MLA A S Ponnanna.

According to sources, the leaders held an intense discussion on the political situation and chalked out strategies to ensure Siddaramaiah continues as Chief Minister.

Pressure to retain chief ministership:

With speculation rife that the Congress high command could summon state leaders at any moment to discuss a possible leadership transition, Siddaramaiah’s loyalists are said to have firmly urged him not to relinquish the chief ministerial post under any circumstances.

The ministers reportedly expressed concern that removing Siddaramaiah midway could alienate the party’s traditional AHINDA (minorities, backward classes and Dalits) vote base, which they believe remains strongly aligned with him.

The meeting resolved to convey a clear message to the party high command that a majority of MLAs, particularly those representing AHINDA communities, stand solidly behind Siddaramaiah. Leaders felt that projecting unity and strength was crucial to counter internal pressure for a leadership change.

Letter campaign to the high command:

As part of this strategy, the Siddaramaiah camp is preparing to launch a coordinated “letter campaign” to the Congress high command. Sources said Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna has already written to Rahul Gandhi on four occasions, outlining the potential political fallout of replacing Siddaramaiah.

Now, other AHINDA ministers and MLAs are expected to join the effort by sending collective representations, urging the leadership to maintain status quo in Karnataka.

The objective of the letter campaign, leaders said, is to formally place their concerns on record and build moral and political pressure on the high command to safeguard Siddaramaiah’s position.

Mega AHINDA convention planned:

To demonstrate Siddaramaiah’s mass appeal, the meeting also decided to organise a massive AHINDA convention in January, on the lines of the earlier ‘Siddaramotsava’ held in Davanagere. The proposed event aims to mobilise lakhs of supporters and showcase that Siddaramaiah continues to enjoy widespread grassroots backing across communities.

Ministers reportedly committed to extending full organisational and financial support to make the convention a show of strength, sending a strong political signal both within the party and to the central leadership.

Counter to DK Shivakumar camp:

The meeting also discussed ways to counter Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is widely seen as a contender for the top post. Sources said Siddaramaiah loyalists are exploring the possibility of staking claim not only to the chief minister’s position but also to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president’s post.

By seeking influence over both the government and the party organisation, the AHINDA bloc hopes to neutralise rival factions and consolidate power.

What lies ahead:

The developments have intensified political suspense in Karnataka. How the Congress high command responds to this assertive show of unity, and how the DK Shivakumar camp reacts, will be closely watched in the coming days.

The Belagavi meeting has made one thing clear: Siddaramaiah’s supporters are gearing up for a decisive political battle to protect his leadership and retain control over the party’s core vote base.

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