Less than six months after they took over their ceremonial, comfortable—but apparently boring—assignments, Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Sushilkumar Shinde are ready to return to active politics. When contacted by The Indian Express, both Congress veterans—Shinde (64), former Maharashtra chief minister, and Krishna (72), former Karnataka chief minister—were non-committal. But sources close to both governors confirmed that their plea to return to active politics has been conveyed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. ‘‘Both Krishna and Shinde have expressed their desire to return to active politics,’’ a senior minister said. ‘‘In the larger interest of the party, their proposal is under consideration.’’ Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said he too had heard that both Krishna and Shinde were keen to return to active politics. ‘‘I have no knowledge of their decision, but I heard they are keen on returning to active politics,’’ Deshmukh said. Krishna, when contacted, was cautious. ‘‘At the moment, there is no specific agenda before me, but I will always abide by the orders of the Centre. But let me clarify, I have never asked for any post,’’ he said. Shinde has staked his claim for the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by expelled Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Sanjay Nirupam. ‘‘I have no comments on returning to active politics, (but) I will abide by the orders from the Centre,’’ said Shinde. Both Shinde and Krishna had to leave their states reluctantly despite the Congress continuing in power—though in substantially weakened form. Both were smarting from their removal. Krishna was moved to Maharashtra mainly to appease bitter rival—and now Congress alliance partner in Karnataka—former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, after the Congress lost 59 seats in the November 2004 elections. Shinde, a Dalit, was moved to Andhra after his party lost nine seats and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (the Congress’ partner in Maharashtra) increased its strength in November 2004. Entering the Rajya Sabha will not be easy for Shinde since the NCP, which has a more seats in the Assembly than Congress in Maharashtra’s lower house, has already staked claim for the seat.
