Karnataka poll call: Krishna set to quit Mumbai Raj Bhavan

Krishna, who had been pleading with Congress President Sonia Gandhi to allow him to return to politics, is back in contention to lead the party in Karnataka which is likely to go to polls in May. He is set to become the chairman of the party8217;s election coordination committee.

The decision to allow Krishna to return to politics comes after the Congress debacle in Gujarat which was also attributed to the lack of a visible regional face as leader. Karnataka is the next big battle for the party.

In the first week of January, the Maharashtra Governor had called on the Congress President and said he was 8220;bored8221; in Raj Bhawan. He met her again this week and secured the High Command8217;s permission to quit. Krishna was not available for comment.

Krishna8217;s supporters argue that he will mobilise the Vokkaliga votes and break JDS chief H D Deve Gowda8217;s hold over this dominant community. With JDS rebel MP Prakash set to join the Congress, the party is hopeful of making inroads into the Lingayats also.

But there are others who disagree. 8220;If as Chief Minister he could not get the Vokkaligas to vote for the Congress in the 2004 assembly election, how is he going to do it now? He is not going to make any difference to the party8217;s poll prospects,8221; said a senior leader.

Although the Congress is not in favour of projecting any chief ministerial candidate, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mallikarjun Kharge, an eight-term legislator and an influential dalit leader, is being seen as the frontrunner. A section of the Congress thinks it8217;s not advisable to project Krishna as future CM as it would send wrong signals to the dalits. 8220;While Vokkaligas who constitute 11 per cent of the population are not everywhere in Karnataka, Scheduled Castes who constitute 23 per cent of the population are spread across the state and could make or mar any party8217;s chance,8221; said another senior Congress leader.