Bengaluru: Former chief minister, S. M. Krishna reportedly vent his anger when his protégés, KPCC) president, Dr G. Parameshwar and Energy minister, D.K. Shivakumar along with half a dozen ministers went to meet him on Saturday evening.
He reportedly told them he had written 35 letters to Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah in a gap of nearly an year, to which there was neither a response nor was any suitable action taken. His protégés did everything possible to deter Mr Krishna from crossing the brink but in vain.
Apart from this, Mr Siddaramaiah's single handed decision to induct JD(S) leaders, N. Cheluvarayaswamy and his associates into the party fold was the last straw that triggered his decision to call it quits.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a leader said, "Mr Krishna was deeply hurt over Mr Siddaramaiah's inaction over Mandya affairs. He had been writing letters since the last one year over development issues. This was a major grouse as his equations with then in-charge minister M.H. Ambareesh had soured. Only after A. Krishnappa took charge as Mandya district minister, were a few of the old issues resolved. ‘This is the biggest insult heaped on me by the present dispensation,’ was the message to his protégés."
Altough, Mr Shivakumar called up Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah to find an amicable solution to the complaints voiced by Mr Krishna, the latter too reportedly assured that he would sort them out if the former withdrew his decision.
"Hearing this, a furious Mr Krishna reportedly snubbed Mr Siddaramaiah over the phone itself saying he would not change his mind, even if all issues were resolved” the sources added.
Will not go to his doorstep to invite him: Deve Gowda
Reacting cautiously to former external affairs minister S.M. Krishna’s exit from the Congress, JD (S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda said on Monday his party will not invite the veteran to join the party as he knew nothing about the former CM's plans for the future.
Responding to questions from mediapersons on whether Dal (S) would request Mr Krishna to walk in, the former PM said though Mr Krishna and he were contemporaries who arrived on the state's political scene in early 1960s, he knew nothing about the leader's next course of action. He also declined to comment on what his party's reaction would be in case Mr Krishna made the first move and evinced interest in joining Dal (S).
"Mr Krishna was forced to quit the Congress as he was totally sidelined by the party. We will not approach him with any plea to join JD(S) as we don't know what is on his mind about the future course of action", Mr Gowda added.
Expressing confidence that his party would be voted to power in elections to the Assembly in 2018, Mr Gowda said his party would not forge any alliance with other parties but fight on its own strength and by focusing on ways and means of resolving problems of farmers.
Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to focus on addressing woes of farmers, hit by successive droughts, in the Union budget Mr Gowda said demonetization and failure of rainfall had dealt a severe blow to farmers, resulting in a slew of suicides.
Criticising leaders of parties for branding Dal (S) and himself as anti-north Karnataka, Mr Gowda said their campaign had affected the party's poll prospects earlier but people now understood the importance of regional parties for overall progress and development.
