Former District in - charge Minister and a prominent political leader of Mysore district, G. T. Deve Gowda, is opening a new chapter in his political life by joining the BJP at a mega rally arranged at the Town Hall in city today (13th December 2007) after parting ways with JD (S), which he served for nearly 25 years.

He has vowed to steer the BJP to victory in Mysore and Chamaraja Nagar districts in the forthcoming Assembly elections on being given the responsibility.

In an interview, he has discussed the circumstances that led to his exit from JD (S), the logic behind his decision of joining the BJP and the prospects of the party in the two districts.

You were in a secular party. Now you are joining a party, which your previous party considers “communal”. How do you defend your change over?
To tell you the truth, there is no ideology in any party these days. There is neither secularism nor communalism in political parties. You please tell me, who is communal and who is secular? It is only a political jargon. No one wants to commit on ideology. In a democracy only power and development are important.

Why do you go that far? Did we (JD - S MLAs) not submit affidavits to the Governor and the President supporting BJP, which some people allege as communal? Swearing with an affidavit is nothing but expressing our faith in the policies of a political party.

For a politician, who wants to work for the people, a party is not important. It is the charisma of a leader, which is important. Did not Kumaraswamy, the leader of the secular party, form the coalition Government with BJP? Leadership comes first, party comes next. There is no difference between JD (S) and BJP at all.

Why did you leave JD(S), the party you served for nearly 25 years?
There is no internal democracy in JD (S). No MLA opens his mouth in party meetings. Whatever is imposed from above is accepted by all in the name of consensus.

Why is it so?
The supreme leader H. D. Deve Gowda does not like anyone expressing his opinion frankly. He treats such opinions as hostile. He treats them like his enemies or opponents. His is not an open mind and suffocates the atmosphere in the party. The MLAs and MLCs are afraid that they may be denied ticket in the next election. They are afraid that they may not get a Ministerial berth or Chairmanship of Boards or Corporations. Many are also afraid of being expelled from the party. There are many such instances. In fact, there are very few people around Deve Gowda, who dare to speak to him frankly. There are only sycophants and selfish people who carry tales against their opponents within the party. If there are 10 per cent who tell the truth, the number of those who carry tales is 90 per cent.

You often alleged that Ministers (JD - S) had no freedom to function with their portfolios. How far is it true?
JD (S) Ministers were powerless and toothless. Revanna (Deve Gowda's eldest son) interfered in every portfolio. Deve Gowda always supported him. Decisions regarding a portfolio were being taken without the knowledge of the Minister concerned or the decisions taken by him (the Minister) were changed overnight. Ministers were reduced to mere figureheads. Take for example my portfolio (Co - operation). When I was in the hospital following an accident, 12 Asst. Registrars of Co - operative Societies were transferred without my knowledge. Let them take away the powers of the Ministers, but at least they should have shown the courtesy to inform the Ministers concerned before taking decisions on important issues like transfer. In another instance, the CM transferred a Joint Registrar to Bangalore on my request. To my surprise, the same Chief Minister issued another order to suspend the officer the very next day and ordered a CoD probe.

What was the reason?
Revanna. It was he who forced the Chief Minister to issue the order against his wishes. Only the signature of the Chief Minister mattered.

Were there any allegations against the officer?
No, not at all. He was free from allegations. I was really surprised when I came to know about his suspension for no reason.

What about Yeddyurappa? Did he interfere in the portfolios of BJP Ministers as Deputy Chief Minister?
I have never come across a single instance where Yeddyurappa interfered in the portfolios of BJP Ministers, however junior. He gave full freedom to them. He very well knew how a Minister should work. Have you ever read in any newspaper a BJP Minister complaining against Yeddyurappa as opposed to JD (S) Ministers complaining against interference in Janata Dal Legislature Party?

You have been telling that it was with great difficulty you became a Minister...
Yes. I want to disclose to what extent I was being sidelined. The JD (S) supremo was not at all interested in making me a Minister. An eminent litterateur once went to Deve Gowda during the first 20 months of the coalition and requested him to induct me into the Cabinet saying that “GTD is a good worker.” Do you know what the reply the elderly writer got was? JD (S) supremo told him: “Don't mention the name (GTD) again before me.”

What could be the reason according to you?
I do not know. I am unable to understand why they treated me in this manner. Probably he may be afraid of my dynamism and intelligence. He might have thought that GTD is a thorn in the path of his sons.

How did you manage the second time? Who helped you to get the Cabinet berth?
I had to put in a lot of effort to get into the Cabinet after Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister. I could become Minister when it was expanded. Though there was opposition from JD (S) supremo and H. D. Revanna, it was Kumaraswamy and his wife Anitha who took great risk and got me a berth. I am really grateful to them. Now Kumaraswamy argues that since I became a Minister with their help I should not leave JD (S).

Though you were sidelined and had no freedom, why didn't you quit the Cabinet?
I served as a Minister for eight months. I have already told you that I became a Minister with great difficulty. My friends and party workers in the Constituency advised me to work and not to let go the opportunity. They were also right. When I have worked for the party honestly, why should I lose the opportunity? Being a Minister I felt that I can do some work as power is very essential to get benefits for the people, which are not easy for an MLA.

You proved to be a good Minister. You also stayed in villages like Kumaraswamy did. Do you think village stays in Mysore district yielded desired results?
Why not? The outcome of such village stays was wonderful. During my village stay in Halebeedu in Hunsur taluk, top officials including Chief Secretary to Government and Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department participated.
As officials of all categories will stay in the village, sanctions of widow pension, old age pension, pension for disabled can be done on the spot. Distribution of loans and other benefits under various schemes, transfer of Khatas also can be done for which people have to make several visits to the taluk head-quarters. Taking the administration to the doorsteps of the villagers is the basic concept of the village stays.

How was the response from people?
The hospitality of the people in villages is to be seen to be believed. People still respect the officers and the government employees when they go to their doorsteps. We were given ceremonious welcome in many villages.

You did Padayatra in Mysore city too. What was the outcome?
Yes, "Officers going door – to - door" programme was also a success. Many issues like road repair, water supply, garbage disposal, lapses in administration were solved.

Now you are in BJP. What is your role in building the party?
Yeddyurappa has given me full charge of Mysore and Chamaraja Nagar districts. I have been given freedom to select candidates for Assembly polls.

How many seats do you expect to win?
Of the 16 seats in the two districts (Mysore — 11 and Chamaraja Nagar — 5), I am confident of winning eight seats including of course, Hunsur. Six of them will be from Mysore district.

There was a controversy about Sandesh Nagaraj joining BJP. Some say he misled you to join BJP.
There is no question of misleading me. C. Basave Gowda, Sandesh Nagaraj and I had decided to join BJP together.

Some JD (S) MLAs (former) allege that you were very close to Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa since one year and that made you join BJP. What do you say?
Yeddyurappa was the Finance Minister and Eshwarappa the Minister for Water Resources. These are two Ministries, which directly involve in development activities. As an MLA and later a Minister, it was required of me to meet them often to get the works done pertaining to my Constituency. Do you consider it a conspiracy (to join BJP)?

Do you maintain relationship with H. D. Deve Gowda family?
It is wrong to say that we have become enemies. Parting ways in political life is very common. Due to some differences some of us had to break away from Gowda family, but not with selfish motive. I continue to be grateful to Gowda family. Whatever may be the discontent, Gowda and his sons helped me grow in politics. On several occasions, Chennamma (H. D. Deve Gowda's wife), Bhavani akka (Revanna's wife) and Anitha akka (Kumaraswamy's wife) have served food to me. They have treated me like their own family member. How can I forget it? Can I hate them ever?

Part 1 | Part 2

M. R. Shivanna
Courtesy: Star of Mysore

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