Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 19: JD(S) state president H Vishwanath, who had tendered resignation to his post, having been upset at the behaviour of some party leaders, refused to relent although national president of the party H D Deve Gowda, tried his best to convince him to withdraw his resignation on Tuesday June 18.

Deve Gowda had invited Deve Gowda to his residence on Tuesday where he tried to assuage his feelings and urged him to stay as the state chief of the party. But it is said that Vishwanath cited health reasons for sticking to his decision to step down. Even tourism minister Sa Ra Mahesh, and higher education minister G T Devegowda, joined H D Deve Gowda in requesting Vishwanath to take back his decision. But Vishwanath stayed adamant on his earlier decision. It is said that Sa Ra Mahesh's attitude in overlooking Vishwanath's advice on the issue of allotment of party tickets for local body election was one of the reasons for the said resignation. Therefore Mahesh requested Vishwanath to excuse him if the latter was hurt by the stand taken by him on the issue of tickets in local bodies’ election, to which Vishwanath owned silence.

Even during the one-to-one discussions Deve Gowda had with Vishwanath, he could not be made to change his decision to resign, it is gathered.

He told the leaders that no one pays heed to his advice and instructions in the JD(S). He added that as his health is not good, he is badly in need of rest. Although the other leaders continued to pressurize him for two hours to change his mind, Vishwanath refused to budge. Vishwanath said he would meet Deve Gowda again on Thursday, and asked the party president to bless him and send him away.