Mysuru: Ridiculing disqualified legislator, A H Vishwanath, for his sudden turnaround on Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Siddaramaiah and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, senior Congress leader, D K Shivakumar pointed out on Wednesday that he was one of the former MLAs responsible for the fall of the coalition government in Karnataka.
“And now I hear he is making colourful speeches,” he added scornfully. Campaigning in Kommegowdanakoppalu, Hunsur taluk for the coming bypoll, the Congress leader reminded the people that Mr Vishwanath had “sold” them out by quitting as their MLA when in the JD(S) and backing the new BJP government.
“I did not think that at 78, Mr Vishwanath would sell you out . Although he was in political retirement, the JD(S) sought him out and made him its state president. But he gave in to the temptation of money. It is your responsibility to reject all 15 of them (the former MLAs who resigned to bring down the Kumaraswamy government in July) and ensure the victory of Mr Manjunath in Hunsur,” Mr Shivakumar said.
Responding to Mr Vishwanath’s flattering comments on Mr Kumaraswamy, JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda too told reporters in Mysuru, that his former party leader was a seasoned politician, who was simply making these comments for the sake of votes.
“He has spoken both in my favour and Siddaramaiah’s too. Everyone knows he is doing this for the sake of votes. He knows that if he criticises senior leaders like us, it will have an impact on his chances in the byelection. He is mistaken if he thinks people will not understand this,” he said.
