No new government without regional parties

aaron, May 16, 2019, 1:27 PM IST

Udupi/Kaup: The rhetoric between Siddaramaiah of Congress and the JD(S) state president is not serious said JD(S) supremo and former PM H D Deve Gowda and also added that there will never be an alliance between BJP and JD(S) post the elections. Mr Gowda is a senior politician who has been in the political arena since 58 years and will be celebrating his 87^th birthday on May 18^th. In this backdrop, here is an interview of the former PM with “Udayavani”.

What is your view on the rhetoric between Congress and JD(S) state president?

I do not know in what context they have spoken. All of this is not a serious issue. Since the day Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister, the electronic media has not provided any cooperation to the coalition government even for a single day. The coalition government has carried on all the schemes of the previous Siddaramaiah government and has even waivered farmer loans up to Rs 2 lakh. No other government has done such a work. Has anybody appreciated this?

Although Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy were in the same lodge, it is said they never met?

This is not serious. Both were together on the same stage during the by-polls. They went to the lodge together. Have they gone and seen if they have spoken after entering the rooms?

Kumaraswamy had mentioned that Kharge was the CM candidate?

During the formation of the government, Kumaraswamy, Muniyappa, Kharge, Parameshwar and all were together and I had said that Kharge should become the CM in 2004 itself. Then Kharge had said that he would act as per the order for the high command. Gulam Nabi Azad had informed Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi that Kumaraswamy must be made the Chief Minister and accordingly the government was formed.

Is there a possibility for an alliance with BJP after the elections?

Is that even possible? When my son itself is the Chief Minister it is not correct. There is no such thought.

Problems are being faced as the third front; fourth front issue is being created on the national level?

Every state has its own political concord. It is difficult to compare them sitting here. Overall speaking, the fact is that it is impossible for any national party to form its government independently without regional parties. Why did BJP hold talks with AIDMK in Tamil Nadu and with Nitish Kumar in Bihar? Why have the agreed with Shiv Sena which was unhappy with them? This means that BJP too requires regional parties.

Did you send Danish Ali into BSP to form a political agreement in north India?

Danish Ali was with me since 25 years. He had a wish to become an MP. Since BSP’s minister was there in the coalition government, he spoke with Mayawati. She kept the condition that if he contested from her party, she would give him the ticket. For his future, I told him to go. I have no objection to national level politics. Coalition government in Karnataka was inevitable. We have only 7 positions. I have harboured no such thoughts.

Have you kept a personal contact with PM Modi?

I have spoken with him when I met him three or four times. I had asked him, you said you’ll make the country corruption free, has it become? You said of making a Congress free country, it is possible? He did not reply. I had created an album on farmers’ problem and given it to him. He did not react. When I had said that I’ll sit in protest during the Kaveri issue, the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office had given me a call. Later, Ananth Kumar was sent.

Will more responsibilities be given to Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency candidate Pramod Madhwaraj?

During the elections, I had thought that Jayaprakash Hegde would become the candidate. It did not happen. Pramod Madhwaraj said that he will contest. If he wins, he will enter the parliament. If not, we will give him responsibilities as per his expectation.

Karavali is a pride of creation

Nowhere else are there as many temples as there are here. Many important persons have taken birth here. Shankaracharya was born in Kerala and started his first Math in Sringeri. Madhwacharya came from Dwaraka and established Sri Krishna temple. If examined narrowly, they are living in harmony without division.

But BJP (not old Jan Sangh) is attempting to gain political profit. Pejawar Seer had earlier conducted Padyatra to the lake of the dalits and has recently conducted friendship meets with Muslims. I felt happy learning about the assistance provided by Muslims at Jalancharu temple. Various religious seats are working on saving harmony. Karavali is a pride of creation, the specialty of creation that is here cannot be found anywhere.