Siddu off to Delhi for meet with Sonia today

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah will leave for New Delhi on Saturday to meet AICC President Sonia Gandhi.

The Delhi visit seems surprising as the former CM has returned to Bengaluru on Thursday after attending the Congress plenary session at Udaipur in Rajasthan. Sources close to Siddaramaiah told News Trail that he had been called for a discussion on the candidates for the coming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls. With its current strength, the Congress can send Jairam Ramesh to the Rajya Sabha. The party will have to seek the help of Janata Dal ( Secular) to send a second candidate to the Upper House and has to scout for a suitable nominee after the death of Oscar Fernandes. State leaders have reportedly requested Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka but there has been no response from the latter so far.

As per his itinerary, Siddaramaiah is expected to return to Bengaluru on the same day. The AICC President may also approve the list of candidates for the Council polls during his visit.