D K Shivakumar Meets Ex-CM and Now BJP Leader S M Krishna, Seeks Blessings

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday met former Chief Minister and now BJP leader S M Krishna at his residence in Bengaluru.

In the visuals shared by news agency ANI, Shivakumar is seen seeking Krishna's blessings. The former presents a flower bouquet and shawl to the senior politician. On his turn, he presented a book to the Karnataka's new Deputy CM.

SM Krishna is considered Shivakumar's guru in politics. The latter was his go-to man when the former was the Chief Minister of the state between 1999 and 2004.

Beyond politics, they are also relatives as Shivakumar's daughter is married to Krishna's grandson.

90-year-old Krishna joined the BJP in March 2017, ending his nearly 50- year-long association with the Congress. He was the 16th Chief Minister of Karnataka from Congress, had served as Governor of Maharashtra and was the External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2009 to 2012.

Krishna had served as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from December 1989 to January 1993. He was also a member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at various times from 1971 to 2014.

Meanwhile, D K Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC President, took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka on Saturday.

In the recently-held Karnataka polls, Congress registered a resounding victory by winning 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly. The BJP managed to bag just 66 while the JDS was reduced to 19 seats.

Now, the Karnataka Congress has set its eyes on the next Lok Sabha polls. "Let me confess you all something. I am not happy with the 135 seats we achieved in the assembly polls," Shivakumar told party workers on Saturday.

"Our focus needs to be in the right place and that is the upcoming general elections. Congress should perform well in every poll from now on, and we all need to work hard. This is just a beginning and do not get lazy with just one win," he added.