CM apprises Sonia of poor show in LS polls

As rumours trickled in the national capital that the Congress high command was keen to fix responsibility on chief ministers for the party’s poor performances in states where the party is ruling, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Saturday, rushed to Delhi and met AICC president Sonia Gandhi. 

Siddaramaiah met Sonia along with his Cabinet colleagues Home Minister K J George and PWD Minister H D Mahadevappa.  He explained the reasons for the party’s poor show , sources said.

Siddaramaiah said not only has the party improved its vote percentage but able to gain three more seats than 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when the Congress won six seats. Sources said the party is likely to discuss the State’s performance only after the  Congress Working Committee (CWC)  scheduled for Monday.

The Congress leaders, who had expected at least 22 seats in Karnataka hoping the party would repeat its stellar performance of the last year Assembly elections, were stunned the party could garner just nine seats.

The Congress high command had put on notice both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State unit president G Parameshwara that the party should get maximum number in Lok Sabha polls or face action.