SM Krishna was the Home Minister in Manmohan Singh government.
Former Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna joined the BJP on Wednesday in Delhi in presence of BJP chief Amit Shah.
He was the Union Home Minister (2009-2012) in the Manmohan Singh cabinet. Krishna's joining BJP is significant as Karnataka goes to polls next year. Currently there is Congress government in the state and BJP is desperate to wrest power from them.
Speaking to reporters, SM Krishna recalled his amiable relationship with former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and praised Amit Shah and Narendra Modi for taking country to a new height. Amit Shah too returned the compliment and said that SM Krishna will not only boost party's strength in Karnataka but also across the country. Shah promised that Krishna's work has been outstanding and he will be given due respect in the party.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Karge, on Wednesday said that former union minister S.M. Krishna is committing a big mistake by changing his principals at this age.
Extremely disappointed with Krishna's decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kharge said the former was one of the few Congress leaders facilitated with everything and accorded with all sorts of posts.
"The party gave him everything. He was one of the very few Congress leaders, who was provided with all facilities and honoured with all kinds of posts. Don't know how at this age he is taking this step," said Kharge.
"I have no idea that how did his ideology, which he followed for over 50 years changed. Few days of life are left and he is committing a very big mistake by changing his principles at this age," he added.
Krishna in the past had alleged that the grand old party does not want interference in its "hereditary" leadership. "The Congress needs no interference. There is hereditary leadership present. I will go to Delhi and see what happens. The people will have the final say in this matter," Krishna had said.
The 84-year-old first became a Member of Parliament (MP) from Mandya in 1968. Krishna led the Congress to victory in Karnataka in 1999 and served as the chief minister till 2004. He also served as the governor of Maharashtra from 2004-2008.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "SM Krishna")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}