Krishna as CM could have saved party

After the Karnataka Assembly election results were announced, Congress on Sunday blamed the division...

After the Karnataka Assembly election results were announced, Congress on Sunday blamed the division in secular votes for its defeat.

AICC office-bearers, involved in the campaign, feel BJP8217;s projection of Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate worked for the party. On the other hand there was confusion in the Congress over the candidate for CM8217;s post with many contenders vying for it, they said. Congress feels the party should have projected SM Krishna as their chief ministerial candidate.

AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Prithviraj Chavan, however, contended that in the 2004 Assembly elections Krishna had been the obvious chief ministerial candidate but it didn8217;t help. 8220;Besides, we wanted to project a broad-based social coalition, instead of projecting a particular community leader,8221; said Chavan.

After its experience in the Gujarat Assembly election, where the Congress had launched a 8220;faceless campaign8221;, there has been a debate within the party on projecting a CM candidate in Assembly elections. A section of the party also believes though the Congress should not run a faceless campaign in the general elections when the BJP has already declared LK Advani as its prime ministerial candidate.

According to Congress sources, the party High Command8217;s decision to accept Krishna8217;s resignation as Maharashtra Governor turned out to be a 8220;fatal error8221; as it only intensified rivalry in the already faction-ridden state unit. Most of the central leaders from Karnataka had opposed his return to active politics.

8220;Everyone could see that Krishna would be the obvious choice for the top post if the party won and so nobody showed much interest in campaigning. Leaders concentrated on ensuring the success of their candidates, instead of the party8217;s,8221; said a Congress leader from Karnataka.

Krishna-baiters in the party, however, pointed out that the former CM was a 8220;mere paper tiger8221; as he could not ensure the party8217;s victory on his home turf of Mandiya district, including Maddur Assembly seat from where he used to contest.

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Meanwhile, a section blamed the party8217;s defeat on 8220;strange8221; ticket distribution. The decision to deny tickets to their relatives had caused heartburns to several central leaders.