BELAGAVI: As talks and speculation grow over a possible leadership change in the state Congress, political lobbying has intensified behind the scenes.
At the centre of these discussions is the future leadership of the AHINDA social coalition, a group long regarded as the Congress party’s main electoral backbone.
At present, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remains the undisputed face of AHINDA politics. However, one key question is now being widely discussed in political circles: who will lead the AHINDA movement after Siddaramaiah?
At the centre of this, one name is increasingly being discussed - senior minister Satish Jarkiholi.
Jarkiholi has begun to stand out in this space with his recent political moves suggest a calculated attempt to position himself as the next-generation AHINDA leader.
Jarkiholi’s political activity has visibly intensified following his recent visit to New Delhi, where he met Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge. Sources indicate that the meeting, attended also by senior leader K. N. Rajanna, focused on Karnataka’s evolving political situation and the urgent need to promote second-line AHINDA leadership within the party.
According to party insiders, Jarkiholi emphasised that while AHINDA votes remain consolidated under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, maintaining that unity after the inevitable exit of Siddaramaiah could become a serious challenge. He is learnt to have argued that strengthening alternative leadership now is essential for the party’s long-term stability.
After returning from Delhi, Jarkiholi has stepped up outreach efforts across the state, holding meetings with AHINDA community leaders during his tours. These engagements are seen as an attempt to build trust and consolidate social support beyond traditional political structures.
In Kumta town of Uttara Kannada district, he recently convened a district-level meeting with community representatives, focusing discussions on social justice, educational advancement, and employment opportunities, key pillars of AHINDA politics.
Political observers note that the absence of a clear successor within the AHINDA leadership after Siddaramaiah has created a vacuum, one that Jarkiholi appears keen to fill.
His supporters argue that appointing him as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president could further strengthen AHINDA consolidation within the party. Jarkiholi is also believed to possess strong organisational influence within the Congress structure, giving him an operational advantage in mobilising backward classes, minorities, and Dalit communities.
Importantly, he enjoys backing from sections aligned with Siddaramaiah’s inner circle. With renewed discussions emerging around the possibility of a Dalit Chief Minister in the future, the evolving political climate could work in Jarkiholi’s favour.
Jarkiholi has already publicly declared himself an aspirant for the Chief Minister’s post in 2028. In that context, political analysts believe strengthening AHINDA unity will be crucial to any future leadership bid.