Former Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna has formally joined the BJP, two months after resigning from the Congress party.
Krishna spoke exclusively to CNN-News18's Akshata Kumbar about why he left the Congress party and why he thinks the party now lacks an effective leadership. Read the full transcript here.
QUESTION: You have served Karnataka as chief minister from 1999-2004 and you were External Affairs Minister. You have has a long association with Congress. What is your reason to resign from the party?
ANSWER: Well, I did explain that when I quit the Congress in Bengaluru. I had a long interaction with the media and I did spell out why I had to go out of the party, and well to put it in a nutshell I didn't think that Congress is being lead by any person with the needed credibility and who would be acceptable to the majority of countrymen today. Dynastic succession has been a curse to the Congress party. For example, after Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi became the prime minister. There was instantaneous acceptance of Rajiv Gandhi because he had the intellect, he had the educational background. Though he was a pilot, but the switch over to public life was very smooth and was applauded by the people of this country. Later what happened was a totally different story. So the limited comparison that I am trying is, that if led by a competent person who means well, one who is serious then only can one succeed. And I didn't find anybody in the Congress party, who could have done the job because there are no opportunities available to the other Congressmen because of this dynastic "stranglehold" Congress party.
Q: Reports suggest that you were unhappy with being ignored from the party high command, is it true?
A: Well, I was unhappy for a number of reasons. I didn't expect any position from the Congress party but they gave me what I wanted and I am grateful to that party for the leadership, particularly to Indira ji and Sonia ji. Sonia ji to a certain extent had the pulse of the Congressmen, but subsequently when in 2014 we accepted Mr. Rahul Gandhi as the leader in his capacity of Vice President of the Congress party, I think we ran into rough weather. My relationship with him has never been cordial.
Q: Congress says that they gave you everything and yet you left the party when it is at its most vulnerable ever. What do you have to say in your defence?
A: It should not look as if that Congress party gave me everything. I did work for the party for last 46 years. I am one of those who came against the current, in 1962 when I fought my election, the first election, I had to fight against a powerful minister in the state cabinet who was expected to become the CM if the Congress won but they didn't win. But I defeated him; I didn't chose the easy way out into the political arena. I always took the hard road and after 55 years I can look back with a sense of satisfaction.
Q: You have worked with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. How do you assess Rahul Gandhi's leadership skills?
A: Both Indira ji and Rajiv Gandhi ji were very considerate. They was a personal rapport with them, I didn't find that kind of a personal rapport with the successor.
Q: Where do you think Congress goes from here?
A: Well, that is a big question. Congress doesn't have a leader, forget about matching the present prime minister Narendra Modi ji. Even to hold the party together they do not have a serious minded leader. Unless they discard the dynastic stranglehold and choose somebody who is accepted by the Congressmen. I think Congress will continue to be relevant. Both PM Narendra Modi ji and BJP president Amit Shah, they have assured the nation that they will continue to take the country forward. And the most impressive thing is that there is zero tolerance to corruption. I think it is one quality that attracted me to Narendra Modi ji and Amit Shah ji.
File photo of former Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna.
Q: BJP has announced Yeddyurappa as the CM candidate for Karnataka state election. How do you see BJP under his leadership?
A: Yeddyurappa is the president of BJP Karnataka unit, elections are still a year away. And he has been absolved by the court of law of all cases against him, perhaps there will be one or two small cases. Hence, I do not see problem about that.
Q: Sir, reports suggest that BJP is likely to offer you an important constitutional post. Do we see SM Krishna returning to Delhi?
A: My joining the BJP has been unconditional; we have not talked about how they are gonna use me or my services and how they are going to use my experience. All that I can say today is that I have accepted Narendra Modi ji and Amit Shah ji as the leaders who will take India to new heights.
Q: If you have one advice to give to Rahul, what would it be?
A: Now I am out of the Congress, I don't think that it would be fair for me to offer any advice.
Q: Many say that Congress has shot itself in the foot by refusing to field Priyanka in the UP polls. Do you think she has a political future and can rescue the party? Or is that her time has come and gone?
A: I have already said about this dynastic succession and I am not very comfortable with it unless the competence, the intelligence and the involvement and commitment of the person to the ideals of taking the country forward is proved.
Q: You have been a socialist by political belief. How easy will it be for you to adjust to a party like BJP that practices identity politics?
A: Well, I have said about zero tolerance to corruption but in the last three years we have not heard about corruption. I also see that Shri Narendra Modi ji has taken the country to a higher league than when Congress was running the country. Narendra Modi, as shown by the recent results in the Assembly elections, has shown that he is capable for dealing with the people.
Q: A hardliner like Yogi Adityanath is now the UP CM. Do you think he will be able to deliver governance without discrimination to Muslims too?
A: I have been a member of Parliament with Yogi Adityanath ji. I think in the last three days, whatever we have heard about the way he has been going about running the state of Uttar Pradesh, I think I am "maha-impressed", not simply impressed I am maha-impressed. And he has no dynasty and nothing, except his cattle, goats and various other things. He is a great lover of environment, he is a lover of animals and he is a great lover of the people; so, I think he will make a very successful chief minister. I saw some clips during Uttar Pradesh election, a number of Muslim with Narendra Modi ji's placards in their hands.
Q: What is one thing you like the most about Narendra Modi?
A: Well, I said that he has come to power in his own right; he has been able to impress the people of this country with his successful tenure as chief minister of Gujarat for almost 13 years. I am impressed with his concern for the people; I am impressed with the way he has carries himself. I think he makes a wonderful prime minister. He will be of tremendous utility for 125-crore people.
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