Siddaramanahundi, the native village of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah near Mysuru, which erupted in celebration when its illustrious son first assumed office in 2013 and again in 2023, is now gripped by disappointment with him stepping down as the Chief Minister after nearly three years in office.

Residents of Varuna, the Assembly constituency represented by Mr. Siddaramaiah, voiced strong support for the Chief Minister and said he should have been allowed to complete a full five-year term.

“When the party had earlier given him an opportunity to complete a full tenure, why can’t it do so now?” a resident asked, expressing anguish over the leadership transition.

Many felt that retaining Mr. Siddaramaiah in the top post would have strengthened the party in the long run and helped it in the run-up to the 2028 Assembly elections.

Villagers recalled his personal connection with Siddaramanahundi and said he remained closely attached to his roots despite occupying the Chief Minister’s post.

According to them, Mr. Siddaramaiah knew most villagers by name and would personally greet them whenever he visited the village for jathres or family functions.

Residents said the Chief Minister never failed to attend important village festivals and remained emotionally connected to Siddaramanahundi throughout his five-decade long political journey.

Some supporters also felt that Mr. Siddaramaiah should not have yielded to pressure from the party high command. “What wrong has he done? He has contributed immensely to the State and to Mysuru district in particular,” they said.

Villagers credited him with introducing the Congress government’s flagship welfare guarantees after assuming office in 2023 and described him as a leader known for his commitment to public welfare, social justice and development.