“If Rahul Gandhi wants to contest from Wayanad or somewhere else, he is free to do so,” said SM Krishna, former External Affairs Minister in the UPA government, who is now in the BJP camp.

Interacting with reporters at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by Bangalore Reporters’ Guild and the Press Club of Bangalore on Wednesday, he said, “For example, I requested Sonia Gandhi to come and contest from Ballari. Now in what voice can I say Rahul Gandhi should not do that?”

‘Dynastic politics’

Alluding to Rahul Gandhi’s ability to lead the party and the country, Krishna said, “Leadership will not come from being born into a particular family and I was not supportive of dynastic politics. This drove me away from this party.” After Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi was a different breed who learned from his mistakes quickly and delivered for the country many good policies, Krishna said.

“Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the dynastic culture may come to an end in India. Modi does not support this family rule and neither do I,” he said.

Modi has left an “impressive imprint” in the last five years of his rule at the Centre, Krishna said and predicted that BJP will come to power once again.

The former Karnataka Chief Minister claimed that the country did not hear about any corruption at the national level in the last five years. “Modi has provided a corruption-free and scam-free government at the Centre,” he said.

Campaign in Mandya

Talking about his involvement in the Lok Sabha elections, Krishna said, “I have plans to take part in the election campaign for the victory of the BJP candidates. “I will go to Mandya where the BJP is extending support to independent candidate Sumalatha, wife of late Kannada film actor Ambareesh.”

I have also been invited to canvass for party candidates in Hassan and Shivamogga. Referring to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s statement of ‘Modiji ka Sena’, Krishna said, “I think our political discourse must rise above all these sentiments.”

comment COMMENT NOW