Karnataka JDS Chief Quits Post, Owns Moral Responsibility Of Poll Debacle

The Karnataka unit president of the Janata Dal (Secular), H Vishwanath, on Tuesday resigned from his post, PTI reported. Vishwanath was reportedly unhappy about not being consulted on deciding candidates for the urban local body elections.

Vishwanath submitted his resignation to Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Devegowda, saying coordination between the party and its ally Congress had failed completely and that governance has taken a beating, The New Indian Express reported. “Your [Devegowda’s] defeat in Tumkur has hurt me and the party,” he said in the letter to party chief. “The Congress deliberately refused us the Mysore seat and compelled you to contest from Tumkur where Congress had an incumbent MP. They conspired to ensure a humiliating defeat.”

The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) run a coalition government in Karnataka. However, the government in the state has been vulnerable since it was formed in May 2018 and speculation of its collapse have surfaced every now and then. Former Congress MLA KN Rajanna had claimed last week that the coalition government will collapse by June 10.