What’s in store for Krishna in his new BJP avatar?

The confirmation given by Karnataka BJP president BS Yedurappa that veteran Congress leader SM Krishna will join the party has caused a flutter in the State, and created ripples both in the BJP and Congress.

For the Congress, with which Krishna has been associated for 46 years, the blow is hard. For the BJP, he is likely to fill up the Vokkaliga community void.

All these years, the BJP was solely dependent on DV Sadananda Gowda, R Ashok and CT Ravi to pull Vokkaliga votes, and these leaders have not grown beyond their neighbourhood.

Gowda, who hails from Dakshina Kannada, is well-known in the Mangaluru region but has no influence in the Old Mysuru region. With a clean image, he has served as Karnataka CM and is now a Union Minister.

Legislator Ashok’s influence is limited to Bengaluru, where his constituency lies. Ravi hails from Chikamagaluru district and is the youth face of the party.

Against these Vokkaliga leaders in the BJP, Krishna’s influence is far greater. He enjoys considerable support throughout the State.

He has administrative acumen and the ability to mobilise the party, especially in the Old Mysuru region, where the BJP is weak at the moment.

Meanwhile, in the Congress, Krishna’s exit has reignited the outsider versus insider debate. It came up first when the Congress high command imposed Siddaramaiah, a former JD(S) leader, as the Congress Chief Minister and also backed his Cabinet filled by many party turncoats.

Krishna’s exit may trigger an exodus in the Congress, where he has considerable support. Even a collapse, as predicted by JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy, cannot be ruled out.

Political pundits, meanwhile, are keenly watching how Krishna will fit into the Narendra Modi brand of politics — as far as senior leaders, aged 70-plus, are concerned.

Rumours are rife that the BJP has promised the Vice-President post to Krishna, as incumbent Mohammad Hamid Ansari’s tenure is ending.

However, a senior Congress leader was quick to point out that Krishna can even become the President, as Pranab Mukherjee is set to retire in August.

What the BJP has in store for its octogenarian import will be interesting to watch.