Bengaluru, Aug 22(DHNS): A section of Congress leaders is preparing the ground for launching a forum to consolidate the support of minorities, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Dalits.

The forum, to be christened “Yuva Ahinda”, is seen as a move by some close aides of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to strengthen his base ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections. Ahinda is the Kannada acronym for minorities, OBCs and Dalits.

The original “Ahinda” platform, with which Siddaramaiah was closely associated, is now defunct. Some of those associated with the original Ahinda, including former KPSC member K Mukudappa and former MP Virupakshappa, have now floated the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade.

Congress MLC H M Revanna, who is spearheading the Yuva Ahinda, on Sunday said the forum would expose the “misdeeds” of the BJP and other members of the Sangh Parivar. Besides Revanna, political faces in Yuva Ahinda include MLCs V S Ugrappa and M D Lakshminarayana. Litterateurs G K Govinda Rao,  S G Siddaramaiah and K Marulasiddappa participated in a preparatory meeting of the forum on Sunday.

During the last two weeks, BJP leader K S Eshwarappa has been associating with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade to “mobilise support” of OBCs and Dalits.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting of Yuva Ahinda on Sunday, Revanna hit out at Eshwarappa stating that the BJP leader was feeling insecure in his own party. He said that the chief minister was the sole leader of Ahinda and sought to know Eshwarappa’s contribution to the Kuruba community to which he belongs. He said OBCs and Dalits were with the Congress and would always remain loyal to the party.

Writer G K Govinda Rao called for unity among Ahinda communities and said they should emerge as a deciding factor in elections. Litterateur K Marulasiddappa said Ahinda communities should counter communal forces in the country. Litterateur S G Siddaramaiah charged that youths were being brainwashed by RSS functionaries and were being utilised to tear apart the secular fabric of the country he said.

Dinesh Amin Mattu, media advisor to the chief minister said some communities were conspiring against the release of the caste census report and said Ahinda leaders should counter such moves. The state should be ruled by Ahinda leaders for the next 10 years, he said.