The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : S.M. Krishna’s comeback move splits Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

S.M. Krishna’s comeback move splits Congress

S. Rajendran

Senior leaders opposing his return
Pro-Krishna faction working on charisma theory

Bangalore: The Congress in Karnataka is a divided house at a time when the party is readying itself for the Legislative Assembly elections. Recent media reports suggesting that the Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna is ready to return to State politics, lead the party in the elections, and possibly take over the mantle of chief ministership for the second time has caused some unease.

The silence maintained by the central leadership of the party on this matter has only added to the confusion. President of KPCC M. Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a tall political leader given his eight successive victories in the Assembly elections, has not so far been empowered to lead the party in the elections, and is thus unable to refute rumours of Mr. Krishna’s return. The AICC has not even cared to appoint the Pradesh Congress Committee for three years after he took charge.

Several senior Congress leaders of the State — M.Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes, Margaret Alva and C.K. Jaffer Sharief among others, have reportedly expressed their opposition to the return of Mr. Krishna, arguing that it is Mr. Kharge as a Congressman and Dalit leader who can take on the Bahujan Samaj Party.

However, leaders like D.K. Shivakumar and H. Vishwanath are in favour of Mr. Krishna’s return. The Siddaramaiah faction of the Congress has not spelt out its stand.

The pro-Krishna faction is working on the charisma theory. The Karnataka Congress lacks a charismatic leader, they argue, and Mr. Krishna fits the bill. To this, the rival section — several top leaders of the State unit, the All-India Congress Committee and the Congress Working Committee — say that Mr. Krishna’s charisma did not save the party in the 2004 elections, when a strong anti-incumbency factor brought about a three-way split verdict. Sources in the Congress told The Hindu that one of the reasons for the party seeking to put off the Assembly elections is to stall the re-entry of Mr. Krishna, although the official line is that the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission must be implemented before elections.

The Congress high command is reportedly also weighing another factor. It is aware of the animosity between the top leadership of the Janata Dal (S), especially H.D. Deve Gowda, and Mr. Krishna. If the elections throw up another fractured mandate, the Congress will have no other choice but to seek the support of the Janata Dal (S), which will refuse any dealing with the Congress if Mr. Krishna is in the saddle. It is for this reason that the AICC leadership has kept any decision on the leadership issue on hold.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka