Having being out of power for more than ten years, the JD(S) is fighting a battle for survival and hoping to do good in the 2018 Assembly polls. The party lost power in 2007 and since then, the H.D. Deve Gowda headed JD(S) is making desperate efforts to remain in the reckoning.
In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Mr Gowda ruled out any post-poll tie-ups saying that if if the JD(S) failed to perform well, its CM candidate H.D. Kumaraswamy would sit in the opposition. He also tried to get rid of the tag of a 'Father-son party', saying collective leadership was the new mantra.
At 84, ignoring severe knee pain, Mr Gowda is displaying his dogged fighting spirit and has completed a tour of 12 districts. He hopes son Kumaraswamy will get actively involved in electoral work after he recovers from valve replacement surgery which he underwent last week. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hardly seven months are left for the 2018 Assembly elections. Is the JD(S) prepared?
Frankly speaking, people have started comparing the 20-month rule of Kumaraswamy in 2006-07, the four-and-half years of Congress rule and and the five year governance of BJP. I obtained a feedback from party workers and voters during my tour of 12 districts and Kumaraswamy too toured many districts before his hospitalisation. I feel Kumaraswamy has more charisma than either Chief minister Siddaramaiah or B.S. Yeddyurappa (BJP state president). But we have failed to encash on his popularity and convert that into votes. I am doing that work now.
The JD(S) is out of power for more than ten years, the 2018 elections are crucial for the party’s survival.
Yes, there is no argument about that. It will be a do or die battle for us. In the past ten years, we have received setback after setback, many leaders have deserted the party. Even close friends of Kumaraswamy have abandoned him. We lost our office building but people donated generously to built a new office. My elder son Revanna has taken the lead to construct the office building, he had mobilized resources including procuring construction material. Many people suggested that the building be named after me but I suggested the name of Jayaprakash Narayan.
We are also giving prime importance to collective leadership. In the last one and a half years, it is the most important development. By December end, we will be able to identify candidates for all 224 constituencies. We have appointed 13 -14 vice presidents. Each leader has taken responsibility of 3 to 4 districts. Once in 15 days, we will review the work done by party leaders.
It is a known fact that JD(S) has been restricted to old Mysuru region. What are your plans to extend your party base to North Karnataka and coastal districts?
We were restricted to old Mysuru but in the last elections, Konareddy won from Mumbai-Karnataka, likewise, in Hyderabad-Karnataka, we won 5 seats. During his North Karnataka tour, Kumaraswamy did not spend money for mobilizing people, they voluntarily attended his public meetings. I have never seen such gatherings in the past. My assessment is that people have lost faith in the two national parties. I am confident that we can open accounts in all 30 districts in the state in 2018.
Do you think people of Karnataka need a strong regional party to fulfill their aspirations?
I sensed that during my recent tour. This is because both national parties have failed in safeguarding the interests of the state especially on the Cauvery and Mahadayi issues and in getting railway projects sanctioned for the state. This week, I will complete my tour of Hyderabad-Karnataka region and will then pay attention to Old Mysuru since there is immense competition among workers to get tickets. I have to sort out the problem.
But the CM has hijacked the issues of separate flag for Karnataka and the two language policy, which could have been core issues for a regional party?
There is already a separate flag for Karnataka. I don’t believe in gimmicks, I remember how after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif conducted the nuclear test, a file on a similar test came before when I was PM but I refused to give my consent. My aim was to built a rapport with the neighbouring country I instead assured Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam that I would allocate any amount needed for developing our defense research wing. This separate flag gimmick will not deliver any results to Siddaramaiah.
What will be the criteria for candidate selection, there is criticism within the party that only moneybags get tickets.
Deve Gowda or his sons will not decide candidates, we will sit together and select them. We have financial constraints, we are confident that people will voluntarily help us once booths are strengthen. When I lost ownership of the party building, I had lost hope, but from Bengaluru alone, Rs 6 crore was collected for construction of the new building. Yes the party needs money for elections, the candidate of the constituency concerned will bear the expenses.
The JD(S) has no Lingayat or backward class leader worth his salt, how will you counter the BJP and Congress which have strong leaders from these communities?
Those days of community based politics are gone, in the BBMP election, the deputy mayor post was reserved for general category, but we have selected a candidate from the backward classes. Right from Siddaramaiah, many backward class leaders have emerged in this party. We will fight elections on the plank of social justice, many backward classes leaders have joined hands with me. Nor can anyone call us Father-son party anymore. With Basavaraj Horatti, Neeravari, Bandeppa Kashempur, H. Vishwanath, Madhu Bangarappa, Ningaiah, Konareddy and Farooq leading us, collective leadership is the main mantra
I know that, D.K. Shivakumar (energy minister), Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa are close friends. During Yeddyurappa’s rule, Siddaramaiah was opposition leader, but he did not raise a single corruption issue against Yeddyurappa.
Your son Kumaraswamy was the first to raise corruption issues against the Congress but failed to take them to the logical end in what resembled a ‘hit and run’ case.
For one, the media raises issues but drops them in the middle. It’s marketing which matters most now. During my tenure as PM and CM, I decided that ads will be given only on Independence Day and Republic Day. But now, every day, two or three pages of ads are given to the media, even the opposition has no voice to question it.
You have been in public life for more than six decades, how do you assess the administration of PM Narendra Modi?
Colleagues of Modi too are afraid to comment on him but people are smart. Atal Behari Vajpayee launched a campaign, ‘India Shining’ but everyone knowns what happened in the subsequent polls. Arm twisting of constitutional agencies by the Centre is clearly visible, people and intellectuals are openly talking about this.
You enjoy a good equation with Siddaramaiah, will it continue after the 2018 elections?
Having a lot of experience in public life, it is my duty to give suggestions to the state and Centre. There is even criticism that I enjoy a good rapport with Mr Modi. Yes, I met him three or four times to discuss state issues.
Both BJP and Congress are blaming each other on the Mahadayi row, but there is no progress in securing justice for Karnataka. What has the JD(S) done in this regard?
I went to Delhi to convince the PM, I pleaded with him to provide 8 tmc water for drinking purposes to Hubballi- Dharwad and surrounding districts. I also requested him to prevail on Goa to share water till disposal of the plea filed before the Tribunal. But the Centre ignored my request, Now that the tribunal is handling the matter, it is inappropriate to comment on the subject.
The Supreme Court has concluded hearing of the Cauvery water dispute and is in favour of constituting the Cauvery River Management Board. Why are you opposing it?
When power is vested in Parliament, why should we give that power to the judiciary? Parliament has the power to deal with the issue, but the Union government adopted a dual stance by first arguing before the court that the power to constitute the board was vested in parliament and then going back on this. It finally depends on the judgment of the Supreme Court, at this stage I cannot comment on it.
Will the JD(S) play the role of kingmaker after the 2018 Assembly polls if no party gets a majority?
If we fail to get a majority, we will sit in the opposition. We don't want ties with either national party because we have had bitter experiences in the past. Kumaraswamy will sit in the opposition. Enough is enough, I was hurt a lot.
You have been emphasising that secular forces should come together, but the BJP is confident of an ‘arrangement’ with Kumaraswamy, because of his soft corner for them.
Kumaraswamy is repenting for his mistake when he joined hands with the BJP in 2006. He will not trust the BJP anymore.
How many members from your family will contest in 2018? Will Prajwal Revanna, son of H.D. Revanna, gets a ticket? How will you manage the family tussle?
Such problems will not arise in future. Even Revanna has said my decision is final as head of the family. I will protect the unity of the family, I am strong enough to resolve the crisis if it arises.
Do you agree, that Siddaramaiah is more aggressive against the BJP’s CM candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa than you or your son Kumaraswamy?
No, in fact there is no fight between Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa. One can easily assess that Siddaramaiah is more vocal against PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah rather than Yeddyurappa. I think Siddaramaiah is not bothered about Yeddyurappa but he is a bit worried about Modi and Shah.
