The former Karnataka CM finally managed to persuade the Congress high command to allow him to quit as Governor of Maharashtra.
Arjun Singh, Motilal Vora or JB Patnaik tipped to replace him as governor
NEW DELHI: Persistence pays. Especially if you happen to be SM Krishna. The former Karnataka CM finally managed to persuade the Congress high command to allow him to quit as Governor of Maharashtra and return to active politics in his home state. He handed over his resignation to president Pratibha Patil on Wednesday evening.
The Union government is unlikely to appoint a replacement for Krishna immediately so the Governor of one of the neighbouring states will hold additional charge. Top Congress sources told DNA that the change of governor is likely to lead to a major shake up in Maharashtra after the budget session.
Several names are being mentioned in Congress circles as a possible replacement for Krishna in Maharashtra. Prominent amongst them being HRD Minister Arjun Singh, AICC treasurer and Rajya Sabha MP Motilal Vora, and former Orissa Chief Minister JB Patnaik.
However, talking to this correspondent, Arjun Singh categorically denied any likelihood of him replacing Krishna. “I am certainly not going, and nobody has even asked me or approached me in this connection,” he said.
Vora said he had received several phone calls from Mumbai but denied being in the running.
Meanwhile the Congress leadership is reportedly contemplating other changes in Maharashtra — even toying with the idea of replacing chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and state party chief Prabha Rau. The changes, if any, will take place only after the assembly session is over.
The issue did not come up for discussion at Deshmukh’s meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi earlier in the day. The CM said he had met Gandhi to invite her to address a farmer’s rally being organised in the state.
In Karnataka, meanwhile, the Congress leadership has a job on its hands trying to find a suitable role for Krishna while maintaining unity in the state unit.
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