In fact, the former Chief Minister, who led the party government between 1999-2004 after a landslide victory, was conspicuous by his absence, as party leaders who mattered were all there.
After intense speculation last week that he would stay away from canvassing, Krishna began campaigning in some city segments, including Vijayanagara and Govindrajanagar, from Sunday, but it would be interesting to see if he would address poll meetings in home Mandya district, where he is said to be at loggerheads with actor-politician M H Ambareesh, who seem to
The Congress appears in the doldrums in Mandya, with its district president M S Atmananda having quit in protest against the party denying him a ticket and giving it to Ambareesh.
In neighbouring Srirangapatna segment,the party succumbed to the "pressure tactics" of Ambareesh, who refused to file nomination until Ravindra Srikantaiah, who had already been named for the seat, is not replaced by his protege S L Lingaraju.
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Srikantaiah, said to be the favourite of Krishna, filed nominations from both Mandya and Srirangapatna but withdrew it from the former but continues to be in the fray in the latter as an independent, a Congress rebel, spelling potential trouble for the party's prospects.
Union Ministers Mallikarjuna Kharge, M Veerappa Moily, Rahman Khan, K H Muniyappa (all from the State) and senior Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Oscar Fernandes, former Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, besides KPCC President G Parameshwara and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, were among those present at the manifesto-release event.