Here is a bittersweet news for the Congress leaders and workers: Mr S M Krishna, Governor, Maharastra has declared that he will not come back to Karnataka politics.

When Deccan Herald on Monday sought his reaction whether he would rejoin the State politics, he replied in the negative. “I will not come back to State politics”.

Does that mean he has no plans to enter electoral politics at all? “I have no plans to contest the next elections”, he categorically said.  He did not spell out reasons for his decision.

Sources in the Congress said that neither the high command has directed Krishna to come back to Karnataka to oversee the forthcoming election campaign nor he is keen on re-entering politics in the State at this juncture.

The sources said that there are at least 12 senior Congress leaders who are eagerly waiting to be the CM, if the Congress comes to power on its own strength or by joining hands with the JD (S). The aspirants are - Mallikharjun Kharge, Dharam Singh, Jaffer Sharief, Margret Alva, Oscar Fernandes, Siddaramaiah, H K Patil, Dr G Parameshwara, Veerappa Moily, R V Deshpande, M V Rajashekaran and Ambarish.

“When there is such a long queue of aspirants, then why will Krishna come here and compete with anyone? After working as the CM, can Krishna accept any other post other than the KPCC President post? That post is already occupied. The high command will not dislodge Kharge, a senior leader, to bring in Krishna. If Krishna is not going to be vested with any authority then what is the point in bringing him back?”, the sources said.

The sources also said that many of the Congress senior leaders are not for any one leader to continue the state unit. “Many senior leaders will be happy even if the party gets just 60 seats. Because, they don’t mind having a tie-up with Deve Gowda to form the coalition government. If Krishna comes back to the centre stage of politics in the State, then having a post-poll tie-up with other parties especially Deve Gowda, doesn’t arise. Many leaders will be happy if Krishna keeps off Karnataka politics. But if the high command decides otherwise, then the leaders will have no choice but to accept Krishna”.

The sources also said that even if Krishna comes back, the party in the ‘present form’ will not be able to outsmart the BJP. “Just mere presence of Krishna will not be a great benefit to the Party. If he comes, then he should be given free hand to take policy decision, all senior leaders should lend their support. In addition, M P Prakash too should join the Congress. Siddaramaiah should be taken into confidence. If such developments take place, then the party would be able to pose a stiff challenge to the BJP. Even if all this happen, the Congress would have to slog to beat its opponent, the BJP”.