Date:05/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010554520300.htm

Karnataka

‘Siddaramaiah will not form new party ’

Bagalkot: Congress leader M.P. Prakash has said that the Congress paid the price for neglecting the Lingayat voters and the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the recently held byelections in the State.

Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday after inaugurating the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Kannada Book Authority, Mr. Prakash said that in the present circumstances Mr. Siddaramaiah would not form a new political party.

“The party should fulfil the promises made to Mr. Siddaramaiah when he joined the party,” he said.

A meeting of Congress leaders would be convened to study the slip-ups in the party and necessary steps would be taken to strengthen the party from the grassroots level, Mr. Prakash added. — Staff Correspondent