No decision yet on joining any political outfit: Krishna

Former chief minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, on Monday, clarified that he has not taken decision over joining any other political party. S M Krishna had resigned from the primary membership of the party on Saturday, stating that the party had sidelined him. His resignation has given rise to many speculations. Addressing media persons at a private hotel at Somanahalli in the taluk, Krishna said, he would hold discussions with his supporters and decide on the future course of action.

Answering to a query, whether BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa had called him over phone, inviting him to join the party, Krishna said, it was just a rumour. “I met Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda during a book release ceremony and just had a cordial conversation. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior leader Ahmed Patel had called me up. But, it is a closed chapter now. I don’t want to react about it,” he said.

Krishna said, he has already spoken about the people who have hurt him while in the party, and do not want to repeat the names. Reacting to a question about the faux pas during his tenure as External Affairs Minister, he said that it was just a lame excuse for the UPA-1 to remove him. Commenting on whether he will contest from Maddur Assembly constituency, Krishna said, he has not thought over it. He would read the pulse of his supporters and decide his next step, he said.

Speaking on G Madegowda’s suggestion to float a new party, Krishna said, it was his personal opinion. “I have not exerted pressure on my followers to quit Congress. They are taking their own decisions. I spoke to Ravindra Srikantaiah yesterday (Sunday). But it is not possible to disclose the conversation at this point, he said. Manmul president Kadaluru Ramakrishna and former ZP president S Gurucharan were present.