The long expected restructuring of constituencies has evoked resentment for more than one reason, in the political circles of Karnataka. Although the political leaders have restrained themselves from expressing their objections openly, voices of dissent have been emerging in all the camps.
While “this is unscientific” and “the Commission did not hear us properly,” have been the most common refrain of the leaders, each party has its own reasons for opposition. The new list of reservation is sure to have a far reaching effect on the arena of State politics too.
A visible change in the delimitation list is that more seats have been reserved for SC and ST candidates. The major major caste-wise losers in the process are the Lingayats. “They are not the losers. They were over represented earlier and have now been cut to the size”, says a former MP. According to a leader of Lingayat community, who requested anonymity “Lingayats will lose more than 20 assembly segments under the new list.”
While the parliamentary seats of north Karnataka like Bijapur and Gulbarga, the stronghold of Lingayats, are now reserved for SCs, it has been compensated by dereserving Bidar and Chikkodi. As the established seats will go, new leaders have to emerge within the community in the newly dereserved constituencies.
Vokkaligas are also losing three to four assembly seats in the Old Mysore belt, which will compel them to tie up with OBCs to get elected. The formation of the BJP-JD(S) government in State has already convinced most of  the Lingayat and Vokkaliga leaders of the need to be united united. This unity may only strengthen with the need to face the challenges posed by the delimitation.
The Nayaka community which is prominent in the ST list, is the major beneficiary of the new situation. Two parliamentary and 15 assembly seats reserved for STs will open political floodgates to the leaders in that community. There are strong arguments that the politically strong Nayaka leaders will completely snatch the opportunities of  primitive tribes like Jenu Kurubas, Soligas and Kadukurubas.
Among the OBCs, while the political prospects of  Kurubas and Idigas will not undergo a significant change, Yadavas will be the losers. The only parliamentary segment where the Yadavas were sure of winning is now reserved.
According to political observers, the new situation has created better opportunities for Congress to strengthen its political clout, but unfortunately it is lacking in charismatic leaders. Bahujan Samaja Party is another major political outfit which can make its presence felt. However, it is also faced with the scarcity of dynamic leaders.