Ahead of the Cabinet expansion, the Janata Dal (S) has convened a Legislature Party meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Mr. Kumaraswamy summoning the JD(S)LP at a crucial juncture, when party president A.H. Vishwanath has expressed his desire to step down and there is discontentment brewing within the party, has raised many eyebrows. The party’s defeat in the K.R. Nagar Municipal Council polls has provided a new dimension to the disgruntlement that has been brewing for long.
Mr. Vishwanath had lashed out at Tourism Minister S.R. Mahesh, accusing him of indulging in caste politics by denying ticket to aspirants from the Kuruba community, to which Mr. Vishwanath belongs. Furthermore, senior JD(S) leader and Higher Education Minister G.T. Deve Gowda praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in public and lauding him for his “single-minded commitment to nationalism” embarrassed his fellow party leaders.
It is learnt that senior leaders are upset with Mr. Vishwanath’s decision to quit the post of State president for the third time. “Accommodating Vishwanath was a calculated move to checkmate Congress leader Siddaramaiah. Recently, Vishwanath took on Siddaramaiah like never before and tried to unsettle the coalition equations. His sudden decision to quit the post will send the wrong signal,” a senior party leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Sources also said that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy would try to impress upon Mr. Vishwanath the need for him continue in his post at a time the JD(S) is facing a crisis. Mr. Mahesh told reporters in Mysuru that he would also try to convince Mr. Vishwanath on this front.
Meanwhile, a press conference convened by Mr. Vishwanath on Tuesday has triggered more speculation about his political future.