Speaking to reporters on Monday, Vishwanath said Shivakumar’s actions and statements gave a sense of his aversion to the party and growing tendency to quit the Congress and join a “communal party”.

“Shivakumar must be aware which party he is serving. He must exercise caution while making statements. If he is not interested in staying in the party, he may join a communal party,” the MP said.

Vishwanath was responding to statements of Shivakumar made at a rally of Vokkaliga leaders. Community leaders cutting across party lines, including Minister R Ashoka, took part in the rally. Shivakumar blamed Vishwanath and Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition, for sidelining Vokkaliga leaders in Mysore region for long years. He also blamed Vishwanath for blocking allotment of 1,000 sites to Vokkaligas during his tenure as urban development minister and trying to spoil the image of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna through his book, ‘Halli Hakkiya Haadu’. 

Reacting sharply to the accusations, Vishwanath asked Shivakumar to end “caste-based statements”.

“The urban development authorities are there to serve all religions and castes and not an individual caste. Krishna is a senior leader of the party and my leader too. Shivakumar and his men were responsible for the disruption of the release function of my book two years ago,” the MP said.