An organisational restructuring later, the Congress’ brass in Karnataka appears a fine mix of Dalits, Lingayats, Vokkaligas and backward castes, and equipped to take on an aggressive BJP in Assembly elections early next year. Karnataka is the Congress’ last big bastion in the country. The party has also decided to give Chief Minister Siddaramaiah a free rein, while State Congress chief G Parameshwara, a Dalit, will continue in his role. With this the party hopes to keep his Dalit support base intact. MP and former Union Minister KH Muniyappa, also a Dalit, was made a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Tribal leader Satish Jarkiholi was appointed AICC Secretary.

To counter State BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa, the Congress yielded to Siddaramaiah’s demand to bring in SR Patil, a Lingayat, to handle north Karnataka affairs. Like Patil, Dinesh Gundu Rao has also been named Working President, and assigned the southern districts.

The Vokkaligas, who have been Congress supporters for long, have not been sidelined either. DK Shivakumar, known for his strong organisational capabilities, has been made the party’s campaign committee chairman. This is being seen as a counter to the JD(S)’s father-son duo of HD Deve Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy in the old Mysuru region.

Siddaramaiah is expected to take up the mantle of the Backward Classes, having built his career by bringing together the Kurabas, Idigas, Nayaks and others under the Ahinda (Kannada acronym for minorities, backwards and Dalits) label.

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