Union minister SM Krishna to lead by-poll campaign

State in-charge of Congress affairs, Digvijay Singh, managed to break the ice between former Union minister SM Krishna and the present Congress setup after holding a lengthy discussion with him at his residence in Sadashivanagar on Thursday.

As an outcome of the meeting, Krishna not only declared that he was a loyal servant of the Congress party, but attacked JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda and his son and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, calling them opportunists.

Krishna stayed away from the party affairs ever since the party snubbed him during the assembly elections by supporting minister for housing Ambareesh.

Singh, along with KPCC president G Parameshwara, requested him to lead the party to victory in the by-elections to the parliament held for Bangalore Rural and Mandya constituencies.

“I am a loyal servant of the party since 40 years. I believe that I am the senior most Congressman in the state. I have never turned back since the time I joined the party in 1971. I will work for the Congress,” he asserted.

Krishna added that the campaign plan would be chalked out after discussing it with KPCC president Parameshwara.

Krishna said that he was not surprised with the JD(S) and BJP alliance.

“They are opportunists. The leaders of JD(S) are masters in defending their dual policies. People know their character,” he said.

Meanwhile, KPCC president G Parameshwara demanded that now that JD(S) is tied up with the BJP in by-election, it’s time for former Deve Gowda to declare his support for Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

“JD (S) leaders are disillusioned that people are fools and will support them in spite of whatever they do. Their chameleon nature is exposed,” he said.