External Affairs Minister SM Krishna resigns

Mangalore Today News / NDTV

New Delhi, Oct 26 : External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has resigned from the Cabinet. His resignation, sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, comes just two days before an anticipated cabinet reshuffle. "I am making way for youngsters," Mr Krishna said in Bangalore after resigning. He is 80 years old.

Combined with that statement and the timing of his resignation before Sunday’s likely reshuffle, sources in the government and the Congress are pointing to a fairly major revamp in the Cabinet.

 

Though it is not yet known who will replace Mr Krishna, sources said that though there is expectation that Rahul Gandhi might take up the ministry, those close to him say that so far, he continues to be reluctant to join government. The other three names being speculated upon are Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and HRD and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal.

The revamp of the Cabinet is likely to see the inclusion of several young faces. They are understood to be handpicked by Mr Gandhi. Others who are already in government, like Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia, might get independent portfolios. They are currently ministers of state.

Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi may also be inducted into the ministry as a reward for his help in ensuring the stability of the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh with the support of his 18 MLAs.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has already nominated Tariq Anwar to the government, in place of Agatha Sangma.

Congress sources say that Mr Krishna will be required in Karnataka to handle party affairs. "I am a loyal party worker and will continue to work for the party," he told NDTV.

Mr Krishna has served as the chief minister in the state. Mr Krishna is a Vokkaliga, which is politically a very influential caste in the state, and is likely to lead the Congress’ campaign in the next assembly election and give the party a face in the state, which it is currently lacking.

However, sources in the party and the government also said that ahead of every reshuffle, there were rumours of Mr Krishna being removed, though he survived each of them. This time though, the change has been made to probably get someone younger and more dynamic into this crucial ministry.

Mr Krishna was named yesterday in a probe by the Karnataka Lokayukta court into the acquisition of land for the Mysore Bangalore expressway.

He was Karnataka chief minister from 1999 to 2004 and has studied in the United States as a Fulbright scholar.