Former Congress Leader S M Krishna Joins The BJP

Former Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (22 March).

He said he would like to rededicate himself to the cause of the nation under the saffron party’s banner. He told the media,

The BJP president Amit Shah, while welcoming Krishna in the party, said Krishna’s contribution is appreciable and that the former Congress stalwart is a great asset of the nation. “On behalf of BJP, I welcome him. His contribution will make our position strong in Karnataka,” he said.

Union parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar also expressed his delight at Krishna’s move to the BJP.

Krishna was expected to join the party last week, but he had to put off the plan after the death of his sister.

Eighty-four-year-old Krishna had announced his resignation from the Congress on 29 January, saying the party was in a "state of confusion" on whether it needed mass leaders.

Krishna, who was the Karnataka chief minister from 1999 to 2004, had returned to state politics after stepping down as then external affairs minister in 2012.

A trusted aide of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Krishna is credited with setting up Bengaluru as the nation's Information Technology hub.

He has also served as the Governor of Maharashtra.

With Inputs From ANI.