Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on October 9 hinted that he might quit electoral politics after two or five years and then don the role of an advisor while continuing to be in public life.

Asked how many more years he gave for himself in politics, Krishna told during an interview that "I will be around in public life. But there's no guarantee that I will be in electoral contest."

But, the 70-year-old Chief Minister, who is completing three years in office this week, declined to elaborate. "I will be around in public life. That does not mean that I am going to be involved in electoral contest. The quotation ends there and you can draw whatever inference you want to draw."

Asked if it meant that he would not be contesting in Assembly elections, due in two years, Krishna quipped saying, "It (quitting electoral politics) might happen after two years, it might happen after five years."

He then spoke in general terms, "a politician in this country, unless he kicks the bucket, will try to make his presence felt. I believe politicians also have to retire after a particular age, after a particular stage. A serious debate within me is going on."

And what age does he think a politician should retire? "I think 75, they should say good-bye, they can be advisors, not unsolicited, and they should act as advisors."

And is he thinking along those lines? Pat comes the reply, "If somebody consults me. I am willing to give them advice".

Asked if he would lead the party in the next Assembly elections, he said, "All of us together will lead. It's nothing like individual leadership. I am first among the equals. All of us together will face the elections."

PTI