Karnataka Congress unperturbed by Krishna's exit, confident of win

G Parameshwara said people would decide on the future of any party whether it is Congress or BJP.

Bengaluru, Mar 25: Karnataka Congress on Saturday expressed confidence over the party coming back to power in 2018, but the party maintained a caution in the remarks against veteran leader S M Krishna, who left the party and joined BJP.

"S M Krishna is a senior. I don't want to comment on him or his remarks, but one thing is clear, Congress is strong in the state and we are sure that we will come back to power in 2018," state party chief G Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru.

He said the government's commitment in fulfilling the promises made to people, its developmental works and the programmes with social justice background reaching the poor gave confidence to the party about returning back to power.

Krishna who joined BJP on March 22, weeks after ending his nearly 50-years long association with the Congress, has said that Congress needed to be rebuilt but saw 'no seriousness' on the part of its leadership.

Also taking a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, he had said that the politics is a serious business and not a "hit-and-run job". Asked about the impact of Krishna joining the party on Nanjanagudu and Gundlupete Assembly by-polls, Parameshwara said it is for the people to decide.

He has now officially joined the BJP and said he has accepted its principles. He has to naturally work for the party in Nanjanagudu and Gundlupete. Congress will do its our work. It was the people who would decide, he said.

Elections will be held for Gundlupete and Nanjangudu constituencies respectively on April 9 following the death of Cooperative Minister Mahadeva Prasad and resignation of V Srinivas Prasad as Congress MLA after he was dropped from the ministry.

To a reporter's question that according to Krishna, Congress has no future, Parameshwara said people would decide on the future of any party whether it is Congress or BJP.

Parameshwara however did not wish to comment on Krishna's allegations about seniors being sidelined in the Congress loosing connect with the people. Krishna has now gone out of the party and he was now free to say anything, Parameshwara said.

PTI