Mysore: Shock. silence. Sad faces hover around the television screens. Siddharmanhundi – home ground of the outgoing Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah On Thursday, after the news of his resignation came in a small village 25 km from Mysuru, there was a wave of mourning.Many residents flew to Bengaluru on Wednesday to stand with him. The villagers remained hopeful till the end. By Thursday afternoon, suspense was replaced by sadness.Ahead of the 2008 assembly elections, delimitation had pushed Siddaramaiah to a political crossroads. Chamundeshwari – a seat he had represented five times and lost twice – was divided, forcing him to choose between the old Garh and the newly created Varuna. Barely two years ago, he had won in Chamundeshwari by 257 votes.A few days later, at a meeting packed with supporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah broke down in tears while announcing that he would be shifted to his village Varuna. That emotional turn struck a deep chord with Siddaramahundi residents, many of whom still speak of him less as a two-time CM and more as “one among us”.Neighbor Anand said, “We are in shock. Siddaramaiah has done a lot to develop this village and Varuna. We are also worried about the fate of the work.” Siddaramaiah had inaugurated projects worth over Rs 324 crore during Varuna’s visit in March.Residents remembered his approachability and down-to-earth style. Villager Anjaneya said, “Senior people call him by his name. He has not changed even after becoming CM twice.” Varuna’s decision to remain an MLA instead of seeking a Rajya Sabha seat brought some relief to the villagers. “This is a small relief for us,” Anjaneya said.