BJP's Congress job, SM Krishna turns saffron

Bengaluru: Former external affairs minister S M Krishna will join the BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah and Union ministers elected from Karnataka in New Delhi on Wednesday in a move which could tilt the scales in favour of the right-wing party in about 65 Assembly constituencies across the state.

Several Vokkaliga legislators from the city will be on hand to cheer him on arrival at No 11, Ashoka Road, at 3 pm on Wednesday and play a key role in organising a rally in Bengaluru either on Friday or Saturday to mark the veteran leader's entry into the BJP. Mr Krishna, who quit the Congress on January 29, was originally scheduled to join the BJP on March 15 but returned to Bengaluru following the demise of his younger sister, Mrs Sunitha.

Sources in the party said on the eve of his entry into BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah had discussed about the political situation in the state with Mr Krishna. These discussions assume importance in view of the results of an internal survey carried out by the BJP, indicating a shift of two to five per cent votes in about 65 constituencies thanks to Mr Krishna's sway over voters in all districts of Old Mysuru region. Soon after his entry, the leader will drum up support for BJP candidates ahead of Assembly bypolls in Nanjangud and Gundluput constituencies, scheduled for April 9.

Interestingly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has maintained a stoic silence on Mr Krishna's decision to sever his ties with Congress and join the BJP though the latter played a crucial role in entry of the Kuruba strongman into the Congress.