Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on October 10 described Congress' impressive performance in Jammu and Kashmir elections as "historic" and hailed Congress president Sonia Gandhi's leadership.

"It's really a historic victory (for the Congress)", reacted Krishna, who was on the fourth day of his padayatra in the Cauvery basin areas. "I salute all the Congressmen for their bravery and commitment."

"Once again, the Congress under Sonia Gandhi's leadership has shown to the world that Congress matters from Kashmir to Kanyakumari," he commented near Maddur in Mandya district. A Congress coalition government in J & K is going to be established, he added.

Krishna said he wanted to congratulate Gandhi not necessarily to the extent of winning Assembly elections but much more than that, "sense of commitment that she showed in going to Srinagar to address election meeting, when no other national- level leader could not do this and would not do so for reasons well known."

"That again is yet another dimension of Gandhi's leadership qualities," he said. It was under her leadership and that of Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was "one of the architects of Congress victory in Karnataka in the last Assembly polls", that this "historic victory" has been brought about.

PTI