Congress veteran SM Krishna and HD Deve Gowda meet: Who will benefit?
BENGALURU: The surprise coming together of JD (S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda and Congress veteran S.M. Krishna at K.R. Nagar on Tuesday has virtually sent spirits soaring among JD (S) workers, but Congress leaders are not clear as to what kind of political consolidation would emerge before Assembly elections in 2018.
"Tuesday’s meet was a mere coincidence. However, it took a clear shape towards Vokkaliga consolidation," JD (S) sources said. The party, which in the long run wants to reap the benefit of Krishna-Gowda union, seems to be ready to stand by Mr Krishna.
"We sense that the Congress high command may go for a leadership change in Karnataka and we believe Mr Krishna is one of the contenders for the post. If in case, they need support, we will back Mr Krishna ," sources said.
However, the Congress leaders sought to underplay Tuesday’s developments "Leaders like D.K. Shivakumar, Ambareesh and Ramya cannot stand the Gowda family. Then, how will this meeting can become a Vokkaliga consolidation? We do not think Mr Krishna will resort to anti-party activity at this age and spoil his reputation," remarked a Congress leader.
On Tuesday, these two veteran leaders gave “unite Vokkaligas” call at the inaugural of a community hall organised by K R Nagar Vokkaliga Sangha, where the saffron presence was marked by BJP’s R. Ashok.
"Keep your differences aside in a towel (towel which is considered as a symbol of Vokkaligas in rural Karnataka) for the welfare of the community. I am not a politician who indulges in cheap politics. I am not bothered about what others think of my participation in this event," remarked Mr Krishna as he reminisced how Mr Gowda and himself climbed the rungs of state and national politics, sometimes breaking bread together. “Mr Deve Gowda's rise as Prime Minister is a proud moment for every Kannadiga even today,”
he added.
Mr Gowda responded saying Mr Krishna's contribution to the state was immense. "Compared to the present dispensation, Mr Krishna's was the best," adding that it was divine intervention which brought them together at K R Nagar.
Mr Krishna’s decision to share space with Mr Gowda was a message to both CM Siddaramaiah and to central leaders of his party not to sideline the dominant Vokkaliga community, Congress sources said.
