There is a feeling that if you had been projected as the CM, the Congress may have done well.
How can I say anything to that? Yes, there is a huge feeling among party workers that had they declared me as the chief ministerial candidate the party would have performed better.
In retrospect do you think you should have contested the elections?
My not contesting was a crucial mistake. I would have led from the front and the situation would have changed.
Was it a personal decision not to contest or was it imposed on you by the party?
I’d say that it was worked out that way...or it was agreed that I should stay away from the fray.
The Congress has been wiped out in your home district, Mandya. Do you think your contesting from there have helped?
Not just Mandya, contesting from anywhere, even in Bangalore would have helped the party.
Was it the insecurity of senior party colleagues in the state that has caused the damage?
That’s possible. But the hype that was generated when I left the Raj Bhavan in Maharashtra was not properly utilised. Not allowing me to enter the state from Belgaum was a crucial error. It partially damaged the party’s chances. (The plan was to enter through Belgaum and organise a roadshow to Bangalore. This would have been symbolic since Belgaum is a disputed border area between Karnataka-Maharashtra. It would have appeared that Krishna was giving up his gubernatorial posting to take up the cause of Karnataka).
What’s next on your career graph?
I am not a careerist. I plan to write. But it won’t exactly be an autobiography. I’ll put my thoughts together on a lot of issues.
