Bengaluru: In an indication that storm clouds could be gathering over the Janata Dal (S), Mr A.H. Vishwanath, who resigned as president of the party owing moral responsibility for its debacle in the Lok Sabha election from the state, was conspicuous by his absence at the swearing-in of new ministers in the Kumaraswamy government at the Raj Bhavan on Friday.
Sources close to the veteran leader say he is upset with the "insults" heaped on him by party supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and his brother and minister, H.D. Revanna. The Gowda family reportedly made Mr Vishwanath JD(S) president in the hope that he would be able to take on former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a fellow Kuruba and leader of the Congress Legislature Party, in matters concerning the two parties. But with Mr Viswanath failing to match Mr Siddaramaiah's popularity or mass appeal, he left them disappointed, say sources.
Mr Vishwanath has also felt ignored as his recommendations for transfer of officials were ignored and his suggestions on selection of candidates for the elections, dismissed, they add. Moreover, it is claimed that he was harassed by Mr Deve Gowda and Mr Revanna.
And now to the discomfiture of the JD(S) leadership, he is reportedly in contact with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s newly elected Chamarajanagar MP, V. Srinivasaprasad.
The two men have met twice in the last month, leading to speculation that Mr Vishwanath may be planning to jump ship, a downer that the Janata Dal (Secular) can well do without at the moment.
