Veteran Congress leader S M Krishna, who quit from has resigned from the primary membership of the party, today cited his sidelining as the reason for quitting the grand old party.
"What pained me was how Congress sidelined a loyal worker and cited my age for sidelining me," former Karnataka Chief Minister today told reporters.
"Age is a state of mind and it shouldn't be criteria for deciding what situation needs," he added.
Krishna, who served under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as External Affairs Minister, said, "Congress doesn't need mass leaders these days, they only want managers, who can handle a situation."
84-year old Krishna has written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi conveying his decision.
Talking to reporters, Krishna said he is yet to decide on the next step.
He added that he has no plans to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He has called a press conference tomorrow, where he is expected to give details about his decision and his future plan of action.
Krishna was Karnataka's Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004 and then as Maharashtra Governor from 2004 to 2008.
From 2009 to 2012, he served as External Affairs Minister.
He had returned to the state in 2012 but had been maintaining a low profile in the last two years.
As the news broke out, apparently surprised state Congress leaders said they were not aware of the development and rushed to his residence to meet Krishna who was away at a function.
"I am not aware of it. If it is true, I can't even believe it. I do not want to react now," KPCC President and state Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters.
"We had not sidelined him in any matter from any angle. He is one of the most likeable leaders of our party...the party had not sidelined him," he said.
State Congress Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao also said he had no information.
"Without officially knowing I can't react. "Krishna is a senior leader who has always played politics with dignity. He has always played positive politics," he said.
The development has hit the Karnataka Congress at a time when a section of partymen are unhappy over the style of functioning of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also facing an aggressive BJP which is hoping to stage a comeback to power in the 2018 Assembly polls.
