‘Dynastic politics is the bane of the Congress’

Veteran Congress leader SM Krishna resigned from the Congress in January, taking potshots at the party for being in a “state of confusion”, and joined the BJP on Wednesday, almost a year before the assembly election in Karnataka.

The 84-year-old leader was associated with the Congress for 46 years and served as the chief minister of Karnataka, governor of Maharashtra and external affairs minister.

“As long as Sonia Gandhi was in the saddle, I was very comfortable in the Congress party. But for the past three years, leaders like me were made to feel unwanted. Dynastic politics without giving any importance to competence is the bane of Congress party,” Krishna said in an interview to HT. Edited excerpts:

What is wrong with Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi’s style of functioning?

Politics is serious business. It is not a hit-and-run job nor is it a part-time job.

You were a close confidant of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in the party, which has had dynastic succession for years.

That’s what I am saying; dynastic succession without competence cannot last. I was among the many Congress leaders who requested Rajiv Gandhi to take charge of the party after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Rajiv was competent. He was an eloquent speaker, connected with people. It was only later in his tenure as PM that he couldn’t handle things.

Did you or other senior leaders raise these issues with Rahul?

Where is the opportunity for that? So I stayed away from making suggestions for long. But look at the way PM Narendra Modi is working and the BJP president is working. They are very focused and hard working.

Many senior Congress leaders blame you for leaving the party after getting many positions.

That is not the way to look at it. I have also contributed to the growth of Congress.

You said he were drawn to the BJP after Modi’s commitment to the nation. But does the choice of Yogi Adityanath make you flinch about the way your new party works?

No. I have been reading about him and am impressed with his ideas on environment protection, animal welfare.