Siddaramaiah meets Sonia

May join Congress party

In a significant development, former deputy chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday in New Delhi to discuss the possibility of his joining the Congress party.

Siddaramaiah, who was removed from the post of deputy chief minister in the erstwhile Janata Dal (S)-Congress coalition government by JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, has been seen in the company of Congress leaders on several occasions.

This is for the third time that he has met Sonia Gandhi. Several Congress leaders have supported the entry of Siddaramaiah into the party.

According to sources, Siddaramaiah is likely to announce the outcome of his meeting with Sonia Gandhi soon. In case he joins the party, he might address the Congress party rally in Davanagere on July 16 in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, it is learnt.

Siddaramaiah and seven of his supporters (MLAs) have been suspended from the JD (S) for 'anti-party' activities. This faction disassociated from the JD (S) and sought separate identity from the state assembly speaker.

In the recent election to the legislative council from the assembly segment, they had supported the Congress candidates.