'Do not think SM Krishna's exit will affect Cong prospects'

The Karnataka Congress today said it did not think that the exit of veteran SM Krishna from the party would affect its prospects in future elections, including the by-poll next month.
"There should not be any problem for the Congress in future elections, including the coming Nanjangud and Gundlupet by-polls, following the resignation of SM Krishna from the party," state Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters.
He was replying to a question on whether the Congress's prospects in future polls would be affected by the departure of Krishna from the party.
"We will definitely take care of that (Krishna's) loss. If one considers it as a loss, we will definitely manage it," he said.

Asked whether the loss of Krishna would mean losing the Vokkaliga votes, Parameshwara said the party does not believe in caste politics as an election strategy.
"Congress never believes in caste politics. Individuals may do, but we don't believe in caste as a factor in our election strategies," he said.

84-year-old Krishna had announced his resignation from the Congress on January 29, saying the party was in a "state of confusion" on whether it needed mass leaders or not.
Krishna, who was the Karnataka Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004, had returned to state politics after stepping down as the External Affairs Minister in 2012. He had also served as the Governor of Maharashtra.

Yesterday, Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa had said Krishna would join the saffron party on March 15.
Asked whether Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would campaign for the by-polls, Parameshwara said the party usually does not involve the national leadership for such campaigning.
"Usually, we don't involve any national leaders for by-elections. It is the responsibility of the local units. We still have local leaders who have the ability to win," he said.
To another question, he claimed that the fact that BJP president Amit Shah would be campaigning in Karnataka proved that the saffron party was "afraid" of the Congress.

"We will prove them (BJP) wrong. The fact that Amit Shah is coming to Karnataka proves that the BJP is afraid of us," he said.
Asked what bearings the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results would have on the Congress in Karnataka, the minister said, "The party will once again form the government in 2018, because it has the blessings of the people.