Ahinda

{{Short description|Kannada acronym: minorities, backward classes, Dalits}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}

{{refimprove|date=January 2020}}

{{neologism|date=January 2020}}

Ahinda (a Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru or minorities, Hindulidavaru or backward classes, and Dalitaru or Dalits) is a political terminology coined by the Karnataka state's first backward leader Devraj Urs, AHINDA has been reinvigorated by Siddaramaiah.{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/867739/in-karnataka-it-is-congress-partys-ahinda-versus-bjps-hindutva|title=In Karnataka, it is Congress party's AHINDA versus BJP's Hindutva|first=Supriya|last=Sharma|website=Scroll.in|date=7 February 2018 }}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFslDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT319|title=India's 2014 Elections: A Modi-led BJP Sweep|first=Paul|last=Wallace|date=7 July 2015|publisher=SAGE Publications India|isbn=9789351505174|via=Google Books}}

There are two explanations regarding the motives behind Ahinda. Firstly, it is a challenge to the continuing dominant caste hegemony in Karnataka politics. Secondly, it is a non-political social movement aimed at pursuing the cause of social justice to the oppressed classes.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u1cdCwAAQBAJ|title=Emerging Political Leadership Of Backward Classes In Karnataka|first=Dr Prahalladappa|last=M.H|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781329462205|via=Google Books}}

The religious minorities, Dalit and Adivasis constitute 39% of the state’s population – Muslims and Christians (14.79%), Scheduled Castes (17.14%) and Scheduled Tribes (6.95%) and thus they form a significant electorate within the state. However political alignment is not along demographic lines because of the inherent political differences between Chalavadi and Madiga sub groups within Scheduled Castes.{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Supriya|title=In Karnataka, it is Congress party's AHINDA versus BJP's Hindutva|url=https://scroll.in/article/867739/in-karnataka-it-is-congress-partys-ahinda-versus-bjps-hindutva|access-date=2021-07-01|website=Scroll.in|date=7 February 2018 |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal|last=MANOR|first=JAMES|date=2013|title=Lucky in Its Adversaries: A Slipshod Congress Gains a Majority in the Karnataka Election|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23528642|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=48|issue=47|pages=51–59|jstor=23528642|issn=0012-9976}}