Speaking informally on the sidelines of a lunch organised by Congress spokesman Veerappa Moily, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Prithviraj Chavan said Krishna made clear his intentions when he called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday.
Refusing to be drawn into any discussion on the issue as to when Krishna will submit his resignation, Chavan said if the former CM submitted resignation, then his services would be utilised during the forthcoming elections in the State.
Chavan hinted at three possibilities: Krishna going back to State politics, getting accommodated in the Union government or being sent on a diplomatic posting abroad.
Indicating that there would be no change of leadership of KPCC, Chavan, who would be visiting Bangalore on January 27, said it was for the AICC or the prime minister to decide how to utilise the services of the Maharashtra governor.
Chavan also gave vent to his opinion on reports appearing in these columns that the Congress was open to deferring of Assembly elections beyond May if they could not be held as per the new delimitation of constituencies in four months’ time.
“It is a political call. Also we have to see the outcome of the court case relating to delimitation. There is also the issue of Election Commission needing 4-5 months time to hold polls as per the newly carved out constituencies. There are sections of the society which are demanding that polls should be held as per new delimitation because it offers social justice in that the number of seats for SC and ST would increase. We have to consider all these issues. Karnataka is a borderline state.”
Asked when the government was likely to issue notification on delimitation, the minister of state in the PMO said the ordinance on not considering new delimitation in five states can come out any time now. “However, there is no time frame on notifications on new delimitation in other states. It can happen in February or June or December of 2008”.
Observing that the AICC work on forming election-related committees for Karnataka has begun, he said these committees would be constituted shortly. As regards the revamp of KPCC, he said it may still take more time.