In a major jolt to the Congress in Karnataka ahead of ensuing Assembly polls, former member of Parliament and a powerful Kuruba leader AH Vishwanath has decided to quit the Congress. Ending speculations Vishwanath who was responsible for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to migrate from JDs to Congress has told his supporters in Mysuru on Tuesday that he would quit the congress and submit his resignation soon. However he did not disclose his next course of political move which might impact the ruling congress adversely.
After dalit leader V Srinivas Prasad and former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna who have quit Congress and joined BJP, Vishwanath is the next big and influential leader to quit the century old party ahead of assembly polls. But politically it will have impact on the ruling party in old Mysuru area and some parts of north Karnataka where Kuruba population concentration is more.
He said “I am resigning from Siddaramaiah’s Congress,” said Vishwanath, also belongs to Kuruba community for which CM Siddaramaiah also belonged to. Vishwanath expressed regret for allowing Siddaramaiah to enter the Congress party more than a decade ago.
Vishwanath who was Minister in SM Krishna Government and a Member of Parliament from Mysuru has been with loggerheads with chief minister Siddaramaiah for quite sometime. He openly attacked Siddaramaiah who has allegedly ill-treated senior congress leaders. He openly blamed Siddaramaiah for hijacking the congress and destroying the party in Karnataka.
He said “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president G Parameshwara and other leaders are going to destroy the party. There is no respect in the party for seniors who built it from grassroots. They are ill-treating seniors by not inviting them to any meeting convened by the party or functions. They have corned the seniors, which does not augur well.
He said he has not decided to join any party but said both BJP and JDS have been inviting him. “I have not decided yet. Both BJP and JD(S) leaders have invited me to their parties. let us see. I will take a call in consultation with my supporters and people of my constituency” he added. Vishwanath also blamed weak high command for the plight of the party in Karnataka. However, Vishwanath, said the Congress party with which he was associated for 40 years, will remain his “mother” till his death.