ABSTRACT
Urs’s second innings commenced with a nominal challenge to his leadership from Basavalingappa. When the legislators met and, as the Congress (I) culture now required, sought a directive from Mrs Gandhi, she favoured Urs. Had she backed Basavalingappa or anyone else, the party would have been completely divided, but as we shall see, she now badly needed Urs. Nevertheless, there were rumours that this token challenge had been inspired by Mrs Gandhi, to indicate that she could not be taken for granted.
