Sa Ra Mahesh responsible, says an elated Vishwanath

Holding Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh responsible for the fall of Congress-JD(S) coalition government, rebel JD(S) MLA A.H. Vishwanath said he was elated over the  defeat of the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Talking to reporters from a resort in Pune, he said the defeat of the coalition government has put an end to the 'selfish politics' practised by Congress and JD(S) leaders. Though they were a bit tense, they were fully confident of the fall of the Kumaraswamy government.  Development activities had come to a standstill in the last 14 months and only four to five leaders were controlling the government, he said adding that all 15 rebel legislators will sit together and decide on their future course of action after reaching Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Hirekerur Congress rebel MLA, Mr B.C. Patil said it had become inevitable for them to  go against the party diktat because of the neglect of north-Karnataka and the denial of a Cabinet berth to him. He said the Kumaraswamy government did not do anything for the progress of N-K region. This hurt him a lot and he was forced to take the extreme step of going against the party. “I long to return my constituency and meet my people. I will be returning to Bengaluru with other legislators on Wednesday.”

Gokak rebel Congress MLA and the architect of the rebellion, Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi refused to comment and said he would talk to the media later.