Sid wakes up to Krishna threat, befriends Lingayats

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Is Congress leader Siddaramaiah trying to forge a formidable combination of Kurubas and Lingayats to counter the control of external affairs minister S.M. Krishna and KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar over the state unit, or did he just drop by at a meeting of Lingayat legislators here on Tuesday night?

Sources in the party said Mr Siddaramaiah, an aspirant for the Chief Minister's post, had originally worked out a strategy to emerge as the leader of OBCs, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities. He, however, realised that it would not work without the backing of at least one majority community. Therefore, he changed tack to cosy up to Lingayat legislators who are demanding that former treasurer Shamanur Shivashankarappa replace Dr Parameshwar as president of the state unit of Congress. His differences with Dr Parameshwar could be another factor for the Kuruba strongman to join hands with those clamouring for a
change of leadership, sources added.