BJP MLC and MP indulge in mudslinging in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Differences between two Bharatiya Janata Party leaders-MLC A.H. Vishwanath and Member of Parliament Srinivas Prasad came out in the open and both the leaders indulged in mudslinging against each other.

Both Vishwanath and Srinivas Prasad were in Congress party before they joined BJP in different periods. Now, Vishwanath is a BJP MLC and Srinivas Prasad is a Lok Sabha member representing Chamarajanagar parliamentary seat.

While, Vishwanth on Thursday accused Srinivas Prasad of being a “nomadic king” over Srinivas Prasad party hopping during his political career and Prasad on Friday retorted to Vishwanath accusations at a press conference in Mysuru on Friday.

At a press conference, Srinivas Prasad lashed at Vishwanath, in singular, accused him of massing Rs 10 crore out of Rs 15 crore given by BJP to meet the election expenses during the Hunsur Assembly bypoll in Mysuru.

Prasad said that “It was Vishwanath who knocked at my doors to join BJP and I did not invite him to join BJP. Vishwanth expressed willingness to join BJP saying that he was finding it difficult to stay in Janata Dal Secular (JDS).”

“He does not have the moral right to criticise me,” said Prasad and stated he arranged for a meeting with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Vishwanath joined BJP, quitting JDS.

On Thursday, Vishwanath accused Srinivas Prasad of urging him to quit JDS and took promise from him to join BJP and he obliged keeping in mind his friendship. Prasad wanted me to join BJP to make BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa became Chief Minister by dislodging JDS leader H.D. Kumaraswamy was Chief Minister during the JDS-Congress coalition government in the State.

Vishwanath stated “You have lost sense of mind” and asked to recall what went at the residence of B.Y. Vijayendra son of former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa.  Vishwanath reminded Prasad that “he became MLC owing to efforts of RSS leader Mukund.”