Former External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who was to officially join the BJP at the Party Headquarters here today in the presence of National BJP President Amit Shah, will not be joining the party today as he had to return to Bengaluru following the demise of his sister.

S.M. Krishna and his wife Prema Krishna had reached New Delhi yesterday after visiting the Male Mahadeshwara temple in Chamarajanagar on Monday.

Sources said that Krishna had held talks with PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah on reaching Delhi yesterday. Even the State BJP  leaders held a meeting at Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s residence on the former CM Krishna joining the party.

BJP is hoping to utilise Krishna’s political experience to win maximum seats in the old Mysuru region during the 2018 Assembly elections.