SMK left out of poll panel, loyalists to lobby in Delhi

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Supporters of former external affairs minister, S.M. Krishna have decided to go to New Delhi to lobby for a plum post for their leader.

Mr Krishna, who resigned from the Union cabinet, could not find a place in the Congress Co-ordination Committee for the 2014 elections.

On the other hand, Union petroleum minister and former Karnataka chief minister, M. Veerappa Moily got a place in one of the committees. This has come as a rude shock for supporters of Mr Krishna who have decided to launch a campaign soon.

Sources in the party said that supporters of Mr Krishna were expecting him to be given a major responsibility in one of the committees constituted on Thursday. However, much to their discomfiture, he was not considered by the party central leadership. Now, the supporters who met at a private hotel on Thursday evening, have decided to go to New Delhi and lobby for a post for Mr Krishna.

"Considering his seniority and contributions to the Congress, he should be given an important post. We will bring pressure on the party central leaders to give him a very important post. We have resolved to hold one more meeting after which we will decide when and who should go to New Delhi," a leader who participated in the meeting said.

However, a leader who is familiar with the AICC style of functioning, told Deccan Chronicle that the party central leadership may not consider Mr Krishna for any big post in the near future. "The party lost in Karnataka in 2004 when he was CM after which he was made the Maharashtra governor and then external affairs minister. The party may not consider him for a post now," the sources explained.