Mysore/Mysuru: Disgruntled BJP MLC and former Minister A.H. Vishwanath has said, “the results  of Assembly elections is a referendum to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled in 2024 and the beginning of the end of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure from Karnataka.”

Speaking to media persons outside the residence of former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah at T.K. Layout in city yesterday, Vishwanath made a mockery of PM Modi  saying: “The BJP had to suffer only due to the frequent campaign tours of the PM, who took out road shows showered with flower petals.”

“The voters of Karnataka gave a clear mandate for Congress against the BJP’s misrule. They believed in the leadership of triumvirate — All India Congress Committee (AICC) President M. Mallikarjun Kharge, former CM Siddharamaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar — and overwhelmingly supported the party to form the Government with absolute majority. The whole State is happy and what’s left is to walk the talk by fulfilling the guarantees made to the people in the hustings,”    he said.

To a question on most of the members of ‘Bombay Team’ (17 MLAs of Congress and JD(S) who went to Mumbai in 2019, only to bring down the Coalition Government), Vishwanath said: “Dr. K. Sudhakar was egoistic and people have taught a perfect lesson to his feudal attitude.”

“It is the prerogative of Congress High Command to take a call on who should be the CM of the State. AICC President Kharge who is from the State is also an experienced leader. A decision will be taken by Kharge after discussing with his predecessor Rahul Gandhi, KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar, former CM Siddharamaiah and AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala,” added Vishwanath.