Former External Affairs Minister and former Karnataka Chief Minister, SM Krishna is all set to join the BJP, according to BJP’s state President BS Yeddyurappa.
The announcement comes a week after Krishna quit the Congress party.
Announcing Krishna’s shift of allegiances, Yeddyurappa confirmed to mediapersons that Krishna would soon join the party.
“SM Krishna will join the BJP shortly. He has decided to join the BJP. We don’t know when he is going to join yet but that will soon be fixed. He is joining 100%,” Yeddyurappa said.
Krishna had announced his resignation from the Congress party on January 28. His 46-year stint with the grand old party of India had left him disappointed as he was sidelined.
“A situation has arrived where I have to leave the home in which I resided for the last 46 years. With pain and anguish, I have decided to quit the Congress,” Krishna had announced in a press conference.
Soon after Krishna’s exit, several Congress leaders in Mandya, Srirangapattana, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar quit the party and pledged their loyalty to the veteran politician.
If Krishna’s switch over drives his loyalists to join the BJP, then the Congress government is looking at losing out on its strongholds in Mysuru and Mandya districts.
The move may solidify BJP’s presence in districts with Vokkaliga population as 84-year-old Krishna had won multiple elections in the past due to their votes.
Considering his vast experience in statehood, it is still unclear as to what position of power Krishna will be offered in the party, with Assembly elections in Karnataka due in 2018.
If Krishna does join the BJP, as Yeddyurappa states, the move could spell trouble for the Congress in Karnataka.
The Congress’ Dalit vote bank took a hit when former Revenue Minister Srinivas Prasad joined the BJP just a few weeks ago.
In addition, the Congress’ preference for OBC and Dalit vote banks had angered the Vokkaligas.
Moreover, the death of Mahadev Prasad, a senior Congress leader has endangered the Lingayat votes for the party.
Krishna’s dormant political phase after being snubbed by the Congress multiple times may have put him out of the limelight. However, the leader’s relevance in Karnataka can be determined by the support he can gather in the run up to the assembly polls in 2018.