Krishna committing mistake by changing his 'principles' at this age: Kharge

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Karge, on Wednesday said that former union minister S.M. Krishna is committing a big mistake by changing his principals at this age.

Extremely disappointed with Krishna's decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kharge said the former was one of the few Congress leaders facilitated with everything and accorded with all sorts of posts.

"The party gave him everything. He was one of the very few Congress leaders, who was provided with all facilities and honored with all kinds of posts. Don't know how at this age he is taking this step," said Kharge.

"I have no idea that how did his ideology, which he followed for over 50 years changed. Few days of life are left and he is committing a very big mistake by changing his principles at this age," he added.

Krishna in the past had alleged that the grand old party does not want interference in its "hereditary" leadership.

"The Congress needs no interference. There is hereditary leadership present. I will go to Delhi and see what happens. The people will have the final say in this matter," Krishna had said.

Krishna resigned from the Congress earlier in January this year. Ever since then, speculations had been rife that he would join the saffron party. But, he was reportedly told to wait, in the wake of Assembly elections in five states of the country.

The 84-year-old first became a Member of Parliament (MP) from Mandya in 1968.

Krishna led the Congress to victory in Karnataka in 1999 and served as the chief minister till 2004. He also served as the governor of Maharashtra from 2004-2008.