Bengaluru: The Janata Dal (S) State President H Vishwanath has stated that he cannot continue serving as the state chief citing health issues.
Speaking to the media, Vishwanath said, “I have undergone multiple surgeries and am not in the best of health. It will be difficult for me to tour the state and strengthen the party’s base. Such a campaign at a stretch, given my health condition is not possible. I think it is best to resign from the post of State President.”
However, contrary to Vishwanath’s claims of health issues, sources from the JD(S) have stated that the party chief is angry about being sidelined. Party sources say that though Vishwanath is the state president, he has not been given any decision-making powers.
“All the decisions are taken by Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy. No one is given the freedom to carry out works to spread the party’s base. And it has become evident that the first family does not want to expand its scope beyond Old Mysuru,” a JD(S) source said.
A former Congress leader from the Hunsur area, Vishwanath, has a large backing from the Kuruba community. Sources from the Congress say that former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is also from the Kuruba community, had allegedly sabotaged Vishwanath’s attempts to become a strong face in the party.
In 2017, Vishwanath quit Congress and joined JD(S) on the promise of a seat. He contested as a JD(S) candidate and won from Hunsur in the 2018 Assembly Election.
“H Vishwanath joined JD(S) because he had no other option. Siddaramaiah had gone to every extent to ensure that Vishwanath was denied a ticket for the 2018 Assembly Polls. Vishwanath was lured by Deve Gowda with the promise of a ministerial berth. When Kumaraswamy announced his list of ministers in June, Vishwanath was shocked. He was pacified with the post of the party’s state president but he soon realised he had no power or say. Now he wants a ministerial berth,” the JD(S) source added.
A JD(S) functionary said, “Kumaraswamy made us believe that we were the strength of the party. Once he became the CM, he forgot about us. He is never available to hear our problems. Many senior leaders have been sidelined and insulted once Kumaraswamy became the CM. The party’s seniors like YSV Datta and Basavaraj Horatti feel betrayed.”
Party insiders say that the disgruntled veterans and several other party leaders and functionaries are now relying on H Vishwanath to negotiate a better deal for them.
JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda has called for a meeting of party functionaries and leaders on Wednesday, January 2, which will be presided over by Vishwanath. The induction of new ministers and also the appointments to state-run boards and corporations are to be discussed in the meeting.
