The political future of veteran politician A.H. Vishwanath who was disqualified as an MLA under the anti defection law, continues to be under focus though he announced retirement from electoral politics.
There are also speculations that he may join the BJP. However, Mr. Vishwanath refused to elaborate on the issue at a press conference in the city on Sunday.
In the past, Mr. Vishwanath had not minced words against the BJP, dubbing it highly communal, and described it as a polarizing force. On Sunday, however, he seemed to have softened his stance against the BJP and said that times had changed and people were only interested in food, water, shelter and employment.
“It is true that I have called it communal in the past. But these ideologies are meaningless for the common man who only wants basic necessities in life,” he remarked. “There are all types of ideologies in this country adopted to suit one’s convenience,” he added.
When asked who he would support in the byelections for Hunsur, Mr. Vishwanath remarked that one has to wait for elections to be notified first.
Referring to former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s comment equating the defeat of his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Lok Sabha as akin to swallowing poison, Mr. Vishwanath said nobody had poisoned the minds of the JD(S) leaders as much as S.R. Mahesh, K.R. Nagar MLA. “The situation has come to such a pass because leaders listen to people like Mahesh,” he added.
This was Mr. Vishwanath’s first visit to his home turf after the high drama that lasted more than a month. In anticipation of the trouble, the police had beefed up security at the press club while his vehicle was also escorted. A section of JD(S) workers reached the spot to stage a protest but withdrew after they were cautioned against it by the police.
