Siddaramaiah's Ahinda card: Social justice call or 2028 signal to Shivakumar?

Chief minister DK Shivakumar met with his predecessor Siddaramaiah at Kaveri Niwas in Bengaluru and discussed political and party events Bengaluru: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah 's fresh call for 75% reservation for Dalits, backward classes and minorities has thrust Ahinda, the social coalition that shaped his political career, back at the centre of Karnataka politics. At a Karnataka State Backward Castes Federation event Sunday, Siddaramaiah argued that reservation should reflect the population share of disadvantaged communities. He demanded that the caste survey report be published and implemented and stretched his argument beyond jobs and education to seek proportional political representation in Parliament and the state assembly. The timing begs questions: Is Siddaramaiah simply restating a decades-old commitment to social justice, or is he signalling that Ahinda still belongs to him even as CM DK Shivakumar , nearing 100 days in office, turns his gaze towards the 2028 assembly polls. It is significant since Siddaramaiah has said he will not contest in 2028 but will stay active in public life. Observers read the fresh Ahinda mobilisation as an assertion that his base cannot simply be handed over to another, with a recent backward classes gathering seen as being built around him and his demand for greater representation. Political strategist MB Maramkal said Siddaramaiah's continued engagement with Dalit and backward-class groups carries weight. 'Even if he does not contest in 2028, he remains a major campaigner whose endorsement can influence candidate selection and the party's social coalition,' he said recalling that in 2018 and 2023 too, Siddaramaiah had hinted at quitting electoral politics before returning to become CM again. 'Though age is not on his side, his intention is,' Maramkal said, adding that the 75% figure may face constitutional hurdles, but its political message is what matters. The demand also revives Siddaramaiah's older battle over caste data, which he has long argued is essential for meaningful social justice. Before stepping down, he held a cabinet meeting to approve the caste report to ensure Shivakumar takes it forward, but the current CM appears less than keen on it. However, not everyone reads a comeback bid into the move. MN Patil, another analyst, insisted there was nothing tactical about the intervention. 'The Siddaramaiah era ended the day he made way for Shivakumar. He has spoken about Ahinda and social justice for decades, so to read every such statement as a comeback attempt would be wrong,' Patil said, adding that the party's commitment to Ahinda goes beyond individuals. The bigger challenge for the Congress is whether Ahinda stays a collective party platform or remains identified chiefly with Siddaramaiah. His political strength has rested on support among sections of Kurubas, Dalits, Muslims and other backward communities, and the post-Siddaramaiah transition will test how transferable that coalition truly is. Notably, two of his staunch Ahinda backers, PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi and housing minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, stayed away from the event, a detail that did not go unnoticed within party circles watching the succession play out. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Download the TOI App.