New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi visited the Tumkur region in Karnataka on Saturday apparently in a bid to woo the Lingayat community ahead of the 2013 bypolls in the state. Sonia attended the birthday celebrations of the highly respected Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami at 'Siddaganga math', which is reportedly one of India's oldest.
However, a woman protestor at the rally waved black flags at the leader and was immediately taken down by women constables.
The Lingayats are the single largest caste in the state and account for 18 per cent of votes. The community traditionally votes for the BJP and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has emerged their undisputed leader in recent years.
Sonia's visit to the region is important since the Lingayats are politically and economically, the most powerful in the region....
more
01:12 PM, Apr 28, 2012
Karnataka is still reeling under the after-effects of the worst floods of the century. ... 
