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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  S.M. Krishna takes dig at Rahul Gandhi, says politics is serious business
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S.M. Krishna takes dig at Rahul Gandhi, says politics is serious business

S.M. Krishna , who joined the BJP on Wednesday, said there is a disconnect between the Congress leadership and the rank and file of the party

BJP president Amit Shah greets former Karnataka chief minister S.M. Krishna who joined the party in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: PTIPremium
BJP president Amit Shah greets former Karnataka chief minister S.M. Krishna who joined the party in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Taking an dig at Rahul Gandhi, Congress veteran S. M. Krishna, who has joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Thursday said the politics is a serious business and not a “hit-and-run job". The 84-year-old former external affairs minister said there is a disconnect between the Congress leadership and the rank and file of the party.

The comments by Krishna came a day after he joined the BJP. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero tolerance approach towards corruption. Amidst questions being raised over the leadership ability of the Congress vice president following the UP debacle, Krishna was asked about his views on Gandhi’s working style. “Politics was not a not a hit-and-run job nor is it a part-time job," he said.

He also said that the Congress needed to be rebuilt but saw “no seriousness" on the party of the its leadership. “There is no connect between the Congress leadership and the rank and file of the party," he said.

Also Read | New entrants to BJP could bolster its weaker assembly seats in Karnataka

After having spent nearly 50 years in the Congress, Krishna quit the party in January after expressing his unhappiness over being sidelined. “I never demanded any post, just wanted to be respected for my seniority," he said.

His joining the BJP is also being seen as a major boost to the party, which is now looking to spread its footprint in southern India ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka next year. Krishna, who belongs to the Vokkaliga community that accounts for 15% of Karnataka’s nearly 5 crore population, is considered an influential leader. The community dominates nearly 40% of the seats in 224-member Karnataka Assembly.

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Published: 23 Mar 2017, 08:42 PM IST
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