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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sacking of Rajanna exposes Congress' ‘anti-Dalit' face, says BJP
The BJP has maintained that the sacking of Scheduled Tribes leader K.N. Rajanna from the Cabinet over his views on 'voter theft' had revealed the 'true anti-Dalit face' of the Congress, besides exposing the hollowness of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's claims of championing the cause of Ahinda (Kannada acronym for minorities, OBCs, and Dalits). In a social media post, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra said: 'This is the true face of Congress — anti-Dalit, anti-democratic and anti-truth. It also exposes the hollowness of Mr. Siddaramaiah's claims of championing the Ahinda cause. When leaders from these communities are targeted, he does not defend them. Instead, he bows to the diktats of the Delhi high command to safeguard his own position as Chief Minister.' He said that Mr. Rajanna, a senior Dalit leader, was removed from the State Cabinet 'for merely speaking the truth.' 'Clear pattern' Mr. Vijayendra further claimed: 'The pattern is clear. In the case of erstwhile ST Welfare Minister Nagendra, funds earmarked for the development of the community were siphoned off to finance Congress's election expenses. Instead of holding the CM and Deputy CM accountable, the blame was placed entirely on Mr. Nagendra, and the matter was quietly closed.' Meanwhile in the Legislative Assembly, the BJP members led by Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok raised the issue as soon as speculations about Mr. Rajanna either quitting or being sacked started doing the rounds. Mr. Ashok urged the government and Mr. Rajanna to clarify on the issue. He even argued that Mr. Rajanna should not be sitting in the place earmarked for Ministers if he is no longer a part of the ministry. While Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would respond to them later, Mr. Rajanna said he was told by the Law Minister not to speak. 'Whether I have resigned or not will be told by the Chief Minister,' he said. But the Chief Minister stayed away from the session, while Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who was in the session, chose not to comment on the floor of the House. Taking exception to Mr. Rajanna and the government remaining mum, Mr. Ashok sought to remind them that it was during the protest over the honey-trap allegations made by Mr. Rajanna that 18 of the BJP MLAs had been suspended. Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad maintained that the sacking of Mr. Rajanna, a close aide of Mr. Siddaramaiah, was 'a big blow' delivered to the Chief Minister by his deputy.
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Siddaramaiah to lead show at Backwards Classes sammelan in Delhi
BENGALURU/DELHI: In what could be a game-changing political gambit, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is poised to take the national stage at a massive Backwards Classes sammelan in Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on July 25. The gathering, orchestrated by the AICC, comes on the heels of last week's Bengaluru convention, where Karnataka's OBC, Dalit and minority communities had converged in a show of renewed Ahinda solidarity. The Congress hopes to scale up its Backward Classes formula, crafted and championed by Siddaramaiah, to the national stage as it sharpens its strategy for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Observers say this could be Congress's Mandal 2.0 moment, with the party reworking its social justice pitch after years in the political wilderness. Insiders say that caste census data and community estimates are fuelling Congress confidence. 'There's a huge block of Kurubas across the country,' said one source. 'When you add communities like fishers, Edigas, Yadavas, it could point to a social shakeup.' Despite their size, none of these communities has ever seen one of their own become prime minister, which the Congress is keen to highlight. The Mandal Commission had earlier pegged the OBC population at 51-52%, and when combined with Dalits, STs, Adivasis and minorities, the coalition could form 75 per cent of the Indian electorate. Leading the charge is Siddaramaiah, a two-time CM and Kuruba leader with grassroots connect, administrative acumen, and an advocate of the oppressed. His emergence as the symbol of a new social justice coalition has re-energised Congress circles. On Friday, Talkatora Stadium is expected to see a crowd which will rally for nationwide adoption of the Bengaluru Declaration, demand a nationwide caste census modelled after Telangana's survey of collecting social, economic and political data, relaxation of 50 per cent cap on reservation for backward classes, and implementation of reservation in private educational institutions. The Congress believes the road to 2029 runs through India's heartland castes, and Siddaramaiah could just be the man to lead the long march.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Siddaramaiah pitches Ahinda model as national blueprint for social justice
Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah Tuesday said Ahinda — a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits — must no longer be seen as a vote bank but as the "conscience of the nation," as he pitched the Karnataka model of empowerment for national adoption at the inaugural meeting of Congress' national OBC advisory council. "Let us remind the country that Ahinda is not a vote bank. It is the voice of India's conscience," Siddaramaiah said, addressing the gathering at KPCC headquarters. He said the model Karnataka had developed for social justice was rooted in fraternity and backed by data and scientific surveys. "We are here to reorient politics and reclaim our voice. India cannot progress without empowering backward classes, Dalits and minorities who have long been denied power, opportunity and dignity," he said. "And it is now ready for a national level adoption." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Calling it an empowerment model, Siddaramaiah said the Karnataka framework was not merely "relevant" but "essential" for the country. The meeting is expected to give the CM a political edge as the prominent OBC face in Congress party, although his continuance as CM remains a matter of speculation. Siddaramaiah also accused BJP of consistently blocking attempts to bring OBCs, Dalits and minorities into the mainstream. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pernas e tornozelos inchados? Descubra o que pode ajudar a drenar agora aartedoherbalismo Undo "BJP has never been in favour of social justice," he said. Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, who is part of the advisory council, voiced concerns about the BJP-led Centre's seriousness in conducting a caste census. "There is a certain degree of scepticism among OBCs that the caste census may become only lip services after Bihar elections with BJP-sponsored petitions in the Supreme Court and high court scuttling it," Gehlot said. OBC advisory council convenor Dr Anil Jaihind said the inaugural session deliberated on Congress' stand regarding Centre's caste census plan. The two-day event is expected to conclude with the passage of three resolutions on Wednesday. The meeting also featured deliberations on Article 164(1) of the Constitution with reference to states like Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Senior Congress functionaries including former CMs Bhupesh Baghel, V Narayanasamy and M Veerappa Moily joined the discussions alongside dozens of other national OBC functionaries.
Economic Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Congress vision rooted in Rahul Gandhi's principle, says CM Siddaramaiah
IANS Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the Congress party's vision was anchored in Rahul Gandhi's principle that a community's rights must be proportionate to its population. Society must strengthen the voices led by Gandhi to ensure social justice and equity, he said, speaking at the AICC OBC Advisory Council meeting. 'Let us remind the country that Ahinda is not a vote bank. It is the voice of India's conscience,' he said, referring to the acronym that stands for minorities, OBCs and Dalits. Ahinda, he added, was an empowerment model which is not only relevant, but is also essential. 'India can never be a true democracy unless the majority who come from OBC, SC, ST and minority communities, that is the AHINDA communities, are not only counted, but also heard.' Karnataka model, Siddaramaiah said, was principled in its commitment to Social Justice and Equity. 'It is rooted in fraternity. It is based on data and scientific surveys. And it is now ready for a national-level adoption.' The CM said his government was committed to delivering justice after completion of the second socio, economic and educational survey that was underway. The state Cabinet had, last month, decided to conduct a fresh state-wide socio-economic survey and complete it in 90 days as desired by the Congress leadership.'For the first time since 1931, we had data on caste and deprivation. But BJP did not make use of the data effectively for the welfare of the Backward Classes,' the CM said, speaking at the AICC OBC Advisory Council meeting in attacked the BJP and Sangh Parivar saying they polarised India through caste division, while the Congress worked to win back through social unity and constitutional justice.
India Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Siddaramaiah, 45-year-old CM record of Devaraj Urs, and life parallels
Congress leader Siddaramaiah's love for the CM's chair is his desire to beat the record of D Devaraj Urs, who is the state's longest-serving chief minister. Siddaramiah's desire to shatter the record of Urs seems to be behind the power tussle with his deputy, DK Shivakumar. The Sidda-DKS rift boiled over yet again this maintain peace in one of the three states where the party holds power, the Congress high command despatched Randeep Surjewala. The Congress MP said on Tuesday that there wasn't going to be any change in the state leadership for will likely buy some time for Siddaramaiah to fulfil his ambition to script history as Karnataka's longest-serving CM. He needs to sit tight on the chair till January 6, 2026, for that. Urs, also from the Congress, was the Karnataka CM for a total of seven years and 238 days. The longest continuous term he served in the office was 5 years and 285 had told a Kannada news channel in February about his desire to be the longest-serving Karnataka CM, according to a report in the Deccan life and circumstances of Siddaramaiah also has uncanny parallels to that of Urs, whose record he wants to was, in fact, the first chief minister after Mysore was renamed Karnataka in AND URS: BACKWARD COMMUNITY LEADERSThe political history of Karnataka, or Mysore, after the state's reorganisation in 1956 has been dominated by two major communities -- Lingayats and Urs became Karnataka's first backward-class chief minister in 1972. Urs belonged to the Arasu caste, whose population in Karnataka was just 40,000 in 2012, according to the state's law minister S Suresh Urs became the CM, the majority of the chief ministers of the state were from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga largely as the leader of backward and minority communities, Urs formulated a political terminology in Karnataka Politics -- 'Ahinda' (Kannada Acronym for Minorities, Backward Community, and Dalits).He tried to uplift the backward communities in Karnataka and inspired others from these communities to become leaders. After Urs, Karnataka witnessed several CMs from the backward communities, including Sarekoppa Bangarappa, M Veerappa Moily and like Urs, Siddaramaiah is also regarded as the leader of backward and minority belongs to the Kuruba Gowda community with a population of 43,72,847, according to the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste has breathed new life into Urs' Ahinda Urs, who broke into the Lingayat- and Vokkaliga-dominated political sphere, Siddaramaiah disrupted the power game as leaders from the two communities started to occupy the CM's chair with the alliance between the BJP and the JD(S) in became the CM in 2013 for the first the 2018 Assembly election, the Congress returned to power with JD(S) as the junior coalition partner but offered the CM's post to HD Kumaraswamy. With some Congress MLAs joining the BJP, the Congress-JD(S) combine lost URS, SIDDARAMAIAH DEALT WITH PARTY FEUDBoth Urs and Siddaramaiah engaged in a power tussle within the party with former prime protested against then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's imposition of the Emergency in 1975. The friction led to his ouster from Congress in Minister Siddaramaiah was from former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's JD(S). Their synergy and grassroots work saw the JD(S) develop into a strong regional the relationship turned sour in 2005 when Siddaramaiah was the deputy CM in the JD(S)-Congress parties had agreed on power-sharing on a rotational basis. Fearing not getting the CM's chair, Siddaramaiah tried to strengthen the Ahinda forces. Deve Gowda asked Siddaramaiah to step down from the deputy CM post. Siddaramaiah, claiming that he was expelled from the JD(S) by Deve Gowda, joined the Congress in BIGGEST VICTORIES CAME UNDER URS, SIDDARAMAIAHThe Congress in Karnataka witnessed its biggest victories -- in terms of seat count and vote share -- under the leadership of Urs and the leaders have proved to be crowd-pullers in the 1972 Assembly election, the Urs-led Congress garnered 165 of the 216 seats, with a whopping 52.17% vote Siddaramaiah's leadership in 2023, the Congress won 135 of the 224 seats, gaining a majority with a 42.88% vote share. This was the party's biggest victory in Karnataka in 34 interesting similarity between Urs and Siddaramaiah is that both were part of the Congress as well as the Janata Party. While Urs served for two terms as chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah's second one is will try to remain in the CM's seat at least till January 6, 2026, to break the record of Devaraj Urs, with whom his life has interesting parallels.- EndsMust Watch advertisementIN THIS STORY#Karnataka
