Deve Gowda will be next PM: Vishwanath

Janata Dal (Secular) state unit president and Hunsur MLA A H Vishwanath on Sunday said that the era of regional parties has begun and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda will be the next prime minister of the country.

At a press conference here, Vishwanath said the regional parties are in power in many states.

“In Karnataka too, the regional party is in power with JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy becoming the chief minister.”

Vishwanath said that a war has started between communalism and secularism. As a result of alternative thinking, the regional parties have been strengthened across the country, he said, adding that they will form the government at the Centre after the next Lok Sabha election in 2019.

Commenting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said Modi’s dictatorship form of rule has worried people. The Modi’s government is limited to speeches and Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, a radio programme, never turned to ‘Kaam ki Bath’, Vishwanath ridiculed.

“The regional parties have seen Deve Gowda as an alternative leader to Modi. Deve Gowda is the unquestionable leader in regional parties. His political experience will make him the leader of all regional parties,” he said.

Vishwanath said the JD(S) is preparing for the Lok Sabha election.

“Being the state president of the party, I have the responsibility of strengthening the party. I will start a state-wide tour from Kalaburagi district. I will work to strengthen the party in North Karnataka as well as Coastal Karnataka,” he said.

Vishwanath, a former Congress veteran, also suggested the Congress party leaders not to join hands with the communal party BJP as the Congress has secular qualities.

When asked about Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of Deve Gowda, Vishwanath said, “Prajwal has a bright future in politics. He has a good hold in both English as well as the Kannada language. Why we need to identify him as the grandson of Deve Gowda when he is qualified,” he asked and said Prajwal should be encouraged.