Karnataka leadership change: Siddaramanahundi falls silent but stands by son

MYSURU: Shock. Silence. Sombre faces huddled around television screens. Siddaramanahundi - home turf of outgoing Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah - slipped into mourning after news of his resignation rippled through the tiny village, 25km from Mysuru, Thursday.

Several residents left for Bengaluru on Wednesday to stand by him. Villagers clung to hope till the very end. By Thursday afternoon, grief replaced suspense.



Before the 2008 assembly polls, delimitation had pushed Siddaramaiah into a political crossroads. Chamundeshwari - a seat he had represented five times and lost twice - was split, forcing him to pick between the old bastion and the newly carved Varuna. Barely two years earlier, he had scraped through Chamundeshwari by 257 votes.

Days later, at a meeting packed with supporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah broke down while announcing he would shift to Varuna, anchored by his village. That emotional about-turn forged a deeper connect with Siddaramanahundi residents, many of whom still speak of him less as a two-time CM and more as "one among us".

"We are in shock. Siddaramaiah has done a lot to develop this village and Varuna. We are also worried over the fate of the work," said neighbour Anand. During a March visit to Varuna, Siddaramaiah had inaugurated projects worth over Rs 324 crore.

Residents recalled his accessibility and earthy style. "Seniors call him by his name. Even after becoming CM twice, he didn't change," said villager Anjanayya. His decision to remain Varuna MLA instead of seeking a Rajya Sabha berth offered villagers a sliver of comfort. "That is a small relief for us," Anjanayya said.