Bangalore : Congress leader S M Krishna, who returned to Bangalore on Friday evening from New Delhi after resigning as external affairs minister last week, received a rousing welcome from his supporters and a section of his party leaders.

Overwhelmed by the reception, Krishna had no choice but to spend a few hours with the partymen before reaching his residence at Sadashivanagar. While his associates want to believe he would give a spin to the next Assembly elections, Krishna gave no such indication except saying he is tired and needs some rest for now.

Ignoring his request not to assemble at the airport and cause traffic jams, thousands of his supporters, led mainly by D K Shivakumar and R V Devaraj, landed at the airport to receive him. When he arrived along with his daughter around 3.40 pm, his supporters welcomed him with the traditional ‘aarati’ and raised slogans.

Krishna’s cutouts and banners dotted the entire stretch of NH7 from Hebbal to the airport at Devanahalli. The message on the cutouts was loud and clear: Return to State politics. Krishna, dressed in a two-piece suit and accompanied by Devaraj and Shivakumar, waved to the Congress workers. He could reach home only by 7.30 pm as he had to stop at Yelahanka and Byatarayanapura to spend some time with the local leaders. As a result, traffic on the busy airport road was briefly disrupted. Even at the airport, passengers had a tough time negotiating their way through the crowd. A large number of his followers had assembled at his residence too. However, many senior State Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah, were conspicuous by their absence. Prominent among the leaders to welcome Krishna included State Congress president G Parameshwara and S R Patil.

‘No clarity’

Krishna did not disappoint the waiting mediapersons at his residence. The 81-year-old Congress stalwart had just a few things to say. He said he had no clarity about what he would be doing in the coming days. “I am fatigued after having traveled for about eight lakh kilometres in the last three and a half years (as the external affairs minister). So, I need some rest. Then I will get some clarity,” he said.

He, however, refused to comment on the political scenario in the State, saying he was not ready for it yet.

The former chief minister said he was overwhelmed by the heartwarming welcome he received from his supporters and fans and that he would remain indebted to them for their affection.

“The welcome also held out a special message to all those in public life that those who strive for the public good without aspiring anything for themselves will always get a special position in people’s heart. This is a special moment in my life. I do not know what the future holds for me. Expectations will be there, but I do not know whether there is energy to meet the expecations,” he said.

– DHNS