Bengaluru: Upset over being continuously sidelined, former MP A.H. Vishwanath is said to have decided to quit the Congress, the party with which he was associated for over four decades. Vishwanath is all set to give a shock to the Congress, which is still in a celebratory mood following the Nanjangud and Gundlupet by-polls victory.

Vishwanath, an influential Kuruba leader and a prominent politician of Mysuru region, upset over the way the Congress leaders are treating him, is said to have made up his mind to quit the Congress and join the JD(S).

Vishwanath, apart from being a politician, is also a writer, thinker and orator and has maintained good contact with party workers. Vishwanath, who commands respect from all communities, is a straight forward person who doesn’t hide anything.

Vishwanath, who has been criticizing Siddharamaiah’s Governance and political moves of late, is visibly upset over his side-lining in the party.

The former MP believing that it would not be wise to stay in the party where he has no respect anymore, is said to be considering joining the JD(S) which has reportedly promised him a suitable position in the party. He is said to have already held first round of talks with JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, State President H.D. Kumaraswamy, youth JD(S) President Madhu Bangarappa and other top leaders and is likely to join the party on May 10.

Meanwhile, speaking to SOM, Vishwanath said that he is yet to make up his mind on joining any party after leaving the Congress.

Admitting that several BJP and JD(S) leaders were in contact with him, Vishwanath said that he was in a dilemma whether to leave the Congress which he was associated with for over 40 years.

Claiming that CM Siddharamaiah had completely ignored him, Vishwanath said that he was seriously thinking about his next political move, considering his age.