How do you justify your decision to join hands with the BJP, a party which in your eyes was communal all these years ? Doesn't your decision militate against the values the Janata Dal stood for?
First of all, I want to make it clear that there is no question of our compromising on the basic philosophy of our party. You have to remember that the National Democratic Alliance is a grouping of political parties with an agreed common minimum programme. And in their National Agenda of Governance, you will have to note, controversial issues were left out. If our friends like the Samata Party and the Lok Shakti have been able to ensure that, why can't a national party like ours ensure the same? For the first time in 50 years, we are seeing a situation in which all regional parties barring one or two have taken sides. There was a dilemma before us: we were under intense pressure from the thousands of workers that we have to make a choice (between the BJP and the Congress). Our objective was to ensure a stable government and we knew we couldn't go with the Congress.

But wasn't the Janata Dal formed on the plank of fighting communalism and corruption ?
You can't single out any one issue asthe single most important issue. In the human body, is it possible for anyone to say which is more important: the heart or the limbs? This whole thing about the choice between communalism and corruption is illogical. There are so many problems which should engage the attention of the nation.

But there has been criticism that your decision to become a part of the NDA was opportunistic?
If I have done it for the party's survival, how can you dub it opportunistic? At best you can say that we have taken a pragmatic line. Agar dhaara hi nahi hai to, vichaardhaara kaha se aayegi? (If there is no party, where is the question of ideology?) Haven't such alliances taken place in the past? For instance, when we formed the government under V.P. Singh's leadership, wasn't there an understanding (with the BJP)? Even earlier, several forces came together to oppose the Emergency.

And if somebody is pointing a finger at me, I can say that I have never hankered after power. I have resigned from the Lok Sabhathrice. Even in the last election I didn't run away from the contest (Madhepura against Laloo Prasad Yadav) though I knew it was an uphill task because my opponent had the State machinery behind him. But I took the risk for the sake of my party, though I could have contested from Jabalpur or any other seat.

After attacking the Vajpayee government day in and day out ever since it assumed office, doesn't it make it difficult for you to be in league with the same people ?
There is a qualitative difference here. In the last Lok Sabha we were in the Opposition. Now when we know we will be part of the alliance, it will be on the basis of an agreed programme. We had to choose the path of least conflict. We are also happy that the Janata parivar has been expanded with the unification of the Samata Party and the Lok Shakti with us.

In the JD's political affairs committee, the overwhelming view was against joining the NDA. In such a situation, how did you take this decision?
It may have beenthe case. But the PAC is not everything in the party. It is only a nominated body. After all, it was not an overnight decision. There were wide consultations within the organisation. A majority in the elected bodies like the national council and the national executive, and among the MLAs and State unit chiefs agreed with our views. The entire Bihar unit is with us.

The Janata Dal has for many years now enjoyed immense support from the Muslims. Doesn't your decision send the wrong signals to them ?
When we are committed to our basic ideology and principles, I am confident that we will be able to convince them that we have chosen the best path in the circumstances. Smaller parties like the Samata Party and the Lok Shakti have been successful in preventing the BJP from including issues like Article 370 in the National Agenda. Ours is the only national party with a left-of-centre ideology. Our strength in the Lok Sabha may have come down to just six in the last Lok Sabha but we had the third largestnumber of MLAs among all political parties. The media may say that the Janata Dal is dead but it's not true.

Your party has decided to join the NDA but strong reservations have been expressed in BJP quarters to your proposal. And how do you sort the issue of seat-sharing for the coming elections ?
It is for Ramakrishna Hegde and George Fernandes to settle it. Till now, we have not spoken to the BJP.