Ahmed Patel, one of the general secretaries of the Indian National Congress, said that a decision about the fate of the Dharam Singh government in Karnataka would be taken only after a meeting between Sonia Gandhi [Images], president of the Congress party and Janata Dal-Secular leader Deve Gowda in New Delhi [Images].

"Well, we expect this meeting to take place in next couple of days. Either Tuesday or on January 25," Patel told rediff.com on Monday.

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He confirmed that Karantaka Chief Minister Dharam Singh had been summoned by the party president to Hyderabad for deliberations on Sunday.

"We have not taken any decision in regard to Karnataka so far," he said.

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When asked whether a meeting between Sonia and Deve Gowda would have any positive bearing and save the Karnataka coalition government when Deve Gowda has no control over his son and 45 other legislators who are siding with his son, Patel said, "But we have to wait for Deve Gowdaji to get back to us on this matter. After all it is a coalition government," he said.

Ahmed Patel and A K Anthony have been authorised by the Congress president to deal with the Karnataka crisis.