Krishna quits as Governor, returns to party | Interview

SECOND COMING: Krishna will now lead the Congress campaign in Karnataka Assembly elections, likely to be held in May.

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New Delhi: The leaderless Congress in Karnataka has finally got a leader to carry the party to the polls. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has cleared all hurdles for the return of former chief minister SM Krishna to state politics.

Ending days of speculation, Krishna finally stepped down as Maharashtra Governor on Wednesday. He submitted the resignation letter to President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday evening.

He will now lead the Congress campaign in Karnataka Assembly elections, likely to be held in the end of May. The reluctant governor is now a happy man. He is confident of an impressive show under his leadership.

"It is my endeavour. I want to bring the Congress back to power; a full-fledged, stable Congress government in the state. I am going back to Karnataka to join thousands and thousands of party workers to rebuild the party. Nobody is my archrival in the Opposition. All are just rivals. I appeal to all my party colleagues to sink their differences to work for the party," Krishna told CNN-IBN in an interview.

For Krishna however, it isn't going to be an easy task to lead the party. The Congress unit in Karnataka is faction-ridden. He is facing opposition from some of his own party men. However, a majority of party leaders have also welcomed his second coming.

"The high command has taken the decision. If she wants to send him to state politics, the KPCC will welcome it," KPCC President M Mallikarjuna Kharge said.

The Congress suffered a huge defeat under his chief ministership in the 2004 elections. This time too, the BJP and the JD(S) are posing a huge challenge to the Congress. But what goes in Krishna's favour is the fact that he doesn't carry the wrinkles of anti-incumbency this time around.

Karnataka Youth Congress chief Krishna Byregowda has welcomed Krishna's return. "I welcome Sonia Gandhi's decision. Krishna's return to state politics will benefit the party tremendously," he feels.

(With Priyanjana Dutta in Bangalore)