UNI

Mysore, Dec 11: Former Karnataka Minister and senior Congress leader H Viswanath on Monday asked former Prime Minister and JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda to retire from political life as he himself had announced prior to the Chamundeswari Assembly byelection.

Speaking to newspersons here, he recalled that Gowda had said this would be his last fight at the hustings and his ''tricks'' had failed to get the mercy of the people, who voted against his party.

It was now better to retire from political life as being the former Prime Minister he would get good respect all through his life.

Viswanath claimed that the Congress had gained better vote percentage in the bypoll than ever before in Chamundeswari.

He predicted division in the JD(S) shortly, claiming that most of the Legislators and leaders were not happy with the party and the attitude of Mr Gowda and his family members.

Thanking the Election Commission and Election Observer J Raymond Peter for conducting the byelection in an impartial manner, he urged the EC to initiate action in the cases filed during the polls.