Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna got his long pending wish fulfilled on Wednesday as he resigned from his gubernatorial office after getting the Congress high command’s nod before heading to poll-bound Karnataka.
He called on President Pratibha Patil reportedly to hand over his resignation.
Hours before quitting,
Krishna said he felt “quite relieved” on being permitted to relinquish his post and return to active politics. He said he was optimistic of taking up the challenge of leading the party for the elections in the state. “I am confident that I will overcome the challenges and emerge on top,” he was quoted saying.
The Congress had until recently resisted Krishna’s pleas for a more active role either at the Centre or in Karnataka. But with the assembly elections coming up in the southern state, it decided to send him there as part of its strategy to marshal all its resources so that it leaves nothing to chance in the key state where the BJP is also making a strong bid for power.
Whether Krishna can deliver remains to be seen. But as a Vokkaligga, he is expected to provide competition to JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda, who hails from the same community. Similarly, with his urbane persona, the former chief minister of Karnataka is also expected to entice the urban and middle class voters. But there is little doubt that his home-coming is likely to upset some state leaders who, like him, was hoping to lay claim to the top post if the party won the state polls.
{{/usCountry}}Whether Krishna can deliver remains to be seen. But as a Vokkaligga, he is expected to provide competition to JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda, who hails from the same community. Similarly, with his urbane persona, the former chief minister of Karnataka is also expected to entice the urban and middle class voters. But there is little doubt that his home-coming is likely to upset some state leaders who, like him, was hoping to lay claim to the top post if the party won the state polls.
{{/usCountry}}