Modi becoming PM once again 'inevitable', says S M Krishna
Bengaluru, Mar 11: Former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna Monday said he believes that Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister once again was "inevitable".
The former External Affairs Minister also said he would campaign for the BJP in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha polls to ensure that more number of party candidates win from the state and Modi becomes Prime Minister once again.
"I believe in the principle that Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister of this country once again is inevitable," Krishna said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said "For this reason, I will visit as many constituencies as possible and thereby ensure that more number of BJP candidates win from Karnataka and Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister once again.
With this one vision we are all putting our efforts together," he said.
Senior state BJP leader R Ashoka Monday met Krishna to discuss about the preparations for the Lok Sabha polls and requested him to campaign for the party candidates.
Krishna, a former Congress veteran, quit the grand old party and joined the BJP in 2017.
Krishna had served as the Karnataka Chief Minister between 1999 and 2004.
He had also served as the Maharashtra Governor and even had a stint as external affairs minister during the UPA government.
The BJP is likely to use Krishna's charisma to garner more votes in Bengaluru and nearby areas as he is widely credited for the growth of the city as a global IT hub.
The party is also likely to utilise him for campaigning in the districts where Vokkaligas are dominant- like in old Mysuru region, where the BJP is weak, as Krishna belongs to the community.
To a question on how his presence would help BJP in Bengaluru, with reports about former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda contesting as the JD(S) candidate from Bangalore North, Krishna said the saffron party has strong ground in the city and people have not forgotten his good work as Chief Minister.
"I'm of the feeling that the people of Bengaluru have notforgotten the good work that has happened in the three constituencies of Bengaluru during my administration in Bangalore north, south and central- so in all the three constituencies, BJP has strong ground and presence.
So the BJP can face this election with much courage, excitement and aspiration," he said.
Asked whether Gowda contesting would have any impact, Krishna said individuals would not be that important, but ideology is.
"The ideology to which BJP is committed to, on the basis of that ideology we will ask for votes. Naturally, who all have worked for the development of Bengaluru will be in people's minds. So based on that principle, we will fight this election, not on the basis of personality.
But the only exception in this is Narendra Modi should become Prime Minister once again, this is our strong wish," he added.
Reports suggest Bangalore North is one of the constituencies that JD(S) is looking at fielding Gowda, other than Mysuru and Chikkaballapura.
A section of local JD(S) leaders are of the opinion that their party supremo contesting from Bangalore North would help the ruling coalition gain hold in the city,sources said, adding that the Vokkaligas, the community to which Gowda belongs, have a considerable presence in the constituency, along with minorities.
Currently, the BJP holds all the three Lok Sabha constituencies in Bangalore- North, South and Central.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
