Rousing reception for Krishna in Karnataka

However, senior Congress leaders like state president Mallikarjun Kharge and new entrant Siddaramaiah were conspicuous by their absence.

The welcome and motorcade through Bangalore for Krishna was organised by former ministers in his former Government and second-rung Congress leaders — A Krishnappa, DK Shivakumar and Ramalinga Reddy.

The Krishna loyalists had earlier planned a Belgaum-to-Bangalore road show on March 12 to mark the leader’s return. The plan was, however, shelved after several state Congress leaders and at the Centre opposed the idea of pitchforking the former Maharashtra Governor alone into the public eye ahead of the announcement of elections.

Krishna has returned to Bangalore as chairman of the Congress election management and co-ordination committee, a newly-created post.