Former Minister A.H. Vishwanath, who is engaged in a war of words with former Minister S.R. Mahesh, on Thursday threw a counter-challenge at the latter by asking him to bring to Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hills here the “buyer” who had reportedly purchased him.
Mr. Vishwanath, who had resigned from the Assembly in July this year along with 17 others, leading to the fall of the H.D.. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government, had been accused by Mr. Mahesh of being “bought over”.
“If I have been bought, there should be a buyer. Let him bring the buyer to the Chamundeshwari temple at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning. I will wait there. I will also request the police and income tax officials to be present. The media can also come”, Mr. Vishwanath said.
If Mr. Mahesh fails to turn up with the buyer, he will be proved wrong, Mr. Vishwanath said.
Mr. Vishwanath’s counter-challenge signals the resumption of the verbal exchange between the two leaders, which had paused for the last few weeks. Mr. Mahesh had earlier dared Mr. Vishwanath to take a pledge before the deity atop Chamundi Hills that he had not fallen for the temptation and inducements offerred by the BJP to switch sides.
Mr. Vishwanath had rejected Mr. Mahesh’s challenge. Expressing dismay over Mr. Mahesh’s allegation that he had sold himself for ₹25 crore, Mr. Vishwanath asked the JD(S) leader not to indulge in “hit and run” tactics.
