‘Won’t back Cong, BJP in hung House’
SPEAKING OUT Deve Gowda says both Cong and BJP have brought down the level of political discourse during their campaigns
BENGALURU: At 85, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda is probably fighting his last big electoral battle in Karnataka. Dismissive of pre-poll surveys showing the Janata Dal (Secular) as the number-three party in a hung assembly, he claims it will have the numbers in the new House to stake claim to power. In an interview at his Bengaluru residence with
he was critical of PM Narendra Modi and harsh on chief minister Siddaramaiah, whom he accused of stabbing him in the back. He said the BJP’S CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa unfairly tainted his son HD Kumaraswamy when the latter was CM from 2006- 2007. Excerpts:
Vinod Sharma,
from 3,000 to 25,000 in the constituencies it contested. The alliance with her will help us where we lost by small margins. Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao has exhorted Telugu people in Karnataka to vote for me; TDP’S Chandrababu Naidu has sent out signals. Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen is campaigning for my party. Two hundred percent! The question of going with the BJP and the Congress does not arise. We may get up to 70-75, even 80 seats. I have constituency-wise breakup for that tally. The BSP may get two or three seats, Independents may win 10-12. Over the remaining days, we’d try to cover the gap (to a simple majority). Those placing us in the third position will be surprised. I am hoping to be the number one party. The kingmaker’s dilemma won’t be for me. It will be for the other two — the Congress and BJP. Once I get the upper hand, those wanting to form the government will come to my doors. I’ve told my son (HD Kumarawamy) that don’t think of the BJP or Congress. We’d work for the people if we form the government. Or else we’d sit in the Opposition. How do you say that? How can one compromise with misgovernance? All these things (can be discussed) only after May 12 (polling day). I am sincerely telling you I have no mind to tie up with this or that party. I am not exaggerating. The reality is bad. So many of the BJP people have gone to jail. And this Congress… That was a blunder I committed. I brought up that boy — Siddaramaiah — and he stabbed me in the back. Why should I think of him? The major issue for me is how things shape up this week. My son is campaigning daily in 6-7 constituencies. He is getting good response. The media isn’t reflecting the ground reality. The BJP had a government with my son (in 2006). Within three months, they made “baseless” charges of corruption against Kumaraswamy. Yeddyurappa was in cahoots with Janardhana Reddy (the Ballari mining scam kingpin) in targeting him. Why should I go to these types of people? Who removed Dharam Singh? His own Congress people, not us. We’ve suffered because of both the BJP and Congress. Modi may have his sweet voice when I meet him. But he hasn’t done one single work I asked him for framers in Karnataka. All he did was to offer me a cup of tea. Our demand for an IIT in Hassan hasn’t been met despite land being allocated in 2007.