‘If I were a fox in public life, I would have survived a full term of five years as PM’

Both parties want to destroy the JD (S). They don’t want the JD (S) to survive in Karnataka as a third force. In the 2004 elections, Congress was reduced to 64 seats. I expected the JD (S) to get 75-80 seats. Due to internal differences, we ended up with much fewer and were then involved in lengthy discussions with the Congress. During our discussions, I tried to persuade Mrs Sonia Gandhi that our party president, Siddramaiah, should be the chief minister. She disagreed on the plea that her party had to shoulder responsibility at the Centre and they could not allow others to become chief minister in the states. I met Mrs Gandhi several times. We held five rounds of discussion. At the sixth round I said, if we cannot agree on Siddramaiah as the chief minister, then we must follow the power-sharing pattern as in Jammu & Kashmir.

I was not in a position to dictate terms because I belonged to a regional party. I was prepared to go for polls. But our MLAs were not ready. They said they had no resources. So we took a decision to support Dharam Singh for chief minister and Siddramaiah would be deputy chief minister.

Then the rumours started that Dharam Singh was a puppet chief minister, that he was in my pocket. The Congress should feel ashamed of such rumours. Meanwhile, Dharam Singh was trying to strengthen his base and prove he could form a Government on his own.

•SHEKHAR GUPTA: Was that your problem with the Congress?

In 2004 nobody recognised JD (S) as a force in Karnataka. After the election results, everyone knew JD (S) was still a force. But neither BJP nor Congress want to accept this.

•COOMI KAPOOR: You have two public images, that of the wily old fox, and the other of a humble farmer. Which one is true?

You may add to those: an old leader or a stalwart who is a father figure to this Indian state. If I were a fox in public life, I would have survived a full term of five years as prime minister. However, I have not had a very good relationship with the media, which projects me in poor light. I am a blunt fellow, and maybe that’s the reason. I remember that, when I resigned from Mr Hegde’s government, he asked me why I wanted to resign. I told him there was no need to discuss past events. Then he said to me, “Mr Deve Gowda, you must know your weakness: you not only tell the truth, but the naked truth. That is going to harm your career. You must change your attitude.” I said I couldn’t and that stage was over. I say what I think is right or wrong. I can’t help it if it hurts people. But my image has been consistently tarnished — it is said I am anti-development, I am a hindrance to the progress of Karnataka. For six years, between 2002-2008, such a picture of me was painted by the media. But I am a fighter and am not afraid of these things.

... contd.