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Karnataka: Krishna to begin Congress campaign today

March 17, 2008 11:00 IST

It is a big day for the Congress in Karnataka. Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, nicknamed as Simply Marvellous Krishna by the IT sector, will land in Bengaluru at 11.30 am from Mumbai.

Krishna, who is the former chief minister of Karnataka, will be joining the Congress campaign in the state after he quit the post of Maharashtra governor, a few weeks back.

A huge welcome has been planned for Krishna at Bangalore. His supporters led by former minister and Congress leaders D K Shivakumar have organised a roadshow in the city.

Krishna after arriving at the airport, will be taken in an open jeep from the airport.

From there he will head to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office situated on Queen's Road in Bangalore.

Krishna is expected to meet with party leaders and discuss the next course of action.

Krishna will be heading the poll campaign for the Congress.

However, the party high command has made it clear that he is not in Karnataka as the chief ministerial candidate.

Sources in the Congress told rediff.com that after the campaign, Krishna may be absorbed into the Cabinet at the Centre.

The high command feels that projecting him as the chief ministerial candidate will lead to a split in the party as leaders such as Mallikarjuna Kharge have been aspiring to become the CM since time immemorial.

Vicky Nanjappa in Bengaluru