Miffed Krishna quits Congress, not politics

BENGALURU — India’s former external affairs minister and former Karnataka chief minister S.M. Krishna on Sunday quit the Congress, saying he was being sidelined by its leadership.

“I have resigned from the Congress to protect my self-respect and dignity after serving it for 46 years, as the high command has sidelined me because of my age,” an emotional 84-year-old Krishna said.

Clarifying that he was not retiring from politics, Krishna said he had resigned from the party’s primary membership through a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday.

“I am herewith tendering my resignation (from) the Congress Party,” said the letter. Asserting that age was a state of mind, Krishna regretted that the high command had removed him as the external affairs minister in 2012 without any valid reason.

“Age is a state of mind. It should not be the criterion for deciding one’s capacity to continue to work. A politician never retires. He fades away like a soldier,” noted Krishna. “I did not consult anyone on leaving the party. And except my wife, I did not tell anyone that I was resigning from the party, though it is a painful moment in my life,” he said.

He said efforts were made by the party’s leadership in Delhi to change his mind. “I am not retiring from politics though I have quit the Congress, as its future is not bright. Disillusionment with the party started 2012 onwards. There is way of getting rid of political leaders. The party should learn the art of being graceful. They (party leaders) could have told me I am not required. It would have been a graceful exit,” he added. —

I have resigned from the Congress to protect my self-respect and dignity after serving it for 46 years, as the high command has sidelined me because of my age.” S.M. Krishna, Congress veteran