Congress wants managers and not leaders: SM Krishna

 

Addressing the media, SM Krishna, who quit the Congress after his stint in the party for 46 years, said that he was leaving the party with a heavy heart. I cannot continue there as they do not want time-tested leaders but just need managers who can manage the situation to run the show.

 

Krishna was careful not to speak anything against the party’s leaders, be it national or in the state and said that he stands by his statement that the Congress party has given him everything. But his decision comes as the party decided to sideline him citing that he was too senior to be consulted for anything. Applying General Douglas MacArthur's slogan "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away," Krishna also said that a politician never retires but only fades away.

 

Also Read: Eight developments which led to SM Krishna’s resignation

 

 

Speaking about Indira Gandhi, he said that she treated him and other leaders with respect and he was inducted into the Union Cabinet. He also said that even Rajeev Gandhi had respect for the senior leaders. Krishna was also clear about the fact that even Sonia Gandhi treated him well. But he expressed his disappointment that he was not informed directly by the Congress high command that he would not get a ticket for Rajya Sabha for the second term.

 

When asked about his relationship with the state government he refused to say anything. “I am not in the party (Congress) anymore. So only people active in the party can talk about what is happening within the party.

 

 

Answering a question, if his resignation from Congress would give an advantage to BJP, he said this question was to be answered by the media persons who analyse any situation. He said, “I don’t know what is happening in BJP. It is for the media to analyse the situation.”

 

Throughout his speech, one point which was repeating was that his seniority was not being respected in Congress party. “The party which does not respect its seniors and their views cannot be successful. “Despite many challenges my loyalty to Congress was unquestionable for 46 years. But when one’s self-respect is under attack, there is no point continuing in the same place. I hold self-respect as one of the great values, and I cannot continue in Congress where there is no value for it,” he said.

 

Also Read: SM Krishna likely to meet PM Modi, will he now join BJP?

 

When asked if he was interested in the vice president’s post which will be vacant in August after an exit by the incumbent Hamid Ansari, this is all Krishna had to say: “I am not out of my mind.”

 

He clearly denied being just the leader of the Vokkaliga and said when in power he tried to see everyone equally. But still, when asked about a possibility of a regional party, he said “I am like a tube light, which needs time to light up. So, I will take time before announcing my next step.”

 

 

Meanwhile, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda has told that BJP needs people like SM Krishna. “If the leader is willing to join BJP, our party welcomes him. Our party will be strengthened with his presence. His attitude suits the party.”

 

SM Krishna looks interested in the idea of a regional political party. With the clarification that a politician never retires, there is a chance that he might get active in politics again. But will he join any other influential party or float his own, only time will tell.