BJP has legitimised poaching'

JANATA DAL (Secular) president and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda is one of the biggest critics of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. Gowda firmly believes that the pandemonium witnessed in the Assembly during the vote of confidence on October 11 was unarguably the darkest moment in the State's legislative history.

The pending High Court verdict, which hangs over the Yeddyurappa government like the sword of Damocles, has also temporarily put on hold the Janata Dal (S)'s moves to seek the Congress' support to form an alternative government. The Janata Dal (S), which has the lowest number of legislators, 28, among the three main political parties in the State, has been accused by the BJP of fomenting trouble and trying to destabilise the Yeddyurappa government.

Deve Gowda spoke to Frontline about the political climate in the State. He was, however, reticent about the political equations that would emerge in the days to come, saying he could not anticipate what type of judgment the High Court would deliver.

Excerpts:

How do you see the present political situation in Karnataka?

This is political hara kiri. This BJP government of Yeddyurappa is the dirtiest government I have seen in my entire political career: very poor in administration, corrupt, and a money-making government. In this dispensation, money, caste and muscle power are the big factors.

The BJP, which did not have a majority after the 2008 Assembly elections, was able to lure a few legislators, including some from your party, in what has come to be known as Operation Lotus. Do you think this vitiated the political atmosphere?

Most certainly. They [BJP] have legitimised this sort of poaching. Many legislators have fallen prey to money. The BJP offered Rs.40-50 crore and tempted legislators to switch party loyalties. My party has been unable to give such funds. We are not in a position to [monetarily] help our legislators to this large extent.

During the vote of confidence, one of your legislators [M.C. Aswath, who was elected from Channapatna constituency] was absent, making it easier for the BJP to win the trust vote.

They [the BJP] had taken him and kept him under their control. We can take steps to disqualify him by complaining to the Speaker.

Have you complained? His expulsion will further erode your strength in the Assembly.

We have not yet made a complaint to the Speaker.

In the light of the pending High Court verdict, your son H.D. Kumaraswamy, the former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (S) State president, requested Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to postpone the second vote of confidence. The Governor did not oblige. Also, your party wanted to boycott the vote and, on the morning of the vote, sought the Congress' cooperation in the matter. The Congress high command did not oblige. Why did they not cooperate?

How can I say why? I do not know what plans the Congress high command or their leaders had. The Congress, after all, is a national party with its own compulsions.

What in your opinion made the Governor give Yeddyurappa another chance to prove his majority? He spoke of charity.

In the present circumstances, it is an unconstitutional act by the Governor to call for a second vote of confidence.

When his report on theYeddyurappa government and his recommendation for President's Rule are still pending with the Union government, I don't know who brought pressure on him to allow a second vote of confidence. I don't want to say anything now.

Who is to be blamed for this?

I can't say. Can I blame the Union government or the Governor for this decision? Or was the BJP successful in persuading the Union government? I can't say. But when Parliament reconvenes, the Janata Dal (S) will seek a discussion on the Governor's decision to give Yeddyurappa a second chance.

Will the Janata Dal (S) join hands with the Congress in the event of the Yeddyurappa government falling?

How can I say? Let the High Court give its verdict on the 16 legislators who were disqualified by the Speaker. Then we will decide what we should do.

Ravi Sharma