`Forget things like Hindutva'

Interview with H.D Kumaraswamy, new Chief Minister.

As the political crisis unfolded in Karnataka in the new year, it was clear that H.D. Kumaraswamy, the newly sworn in Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader, was metamorphosing from a novice politician who consulted his father on every issue into a man who knew his own mind, a man who not only defied his father but also managed to secure the support of even wavering colleagues. However, it is still unclear how decisive this political `growing up' will prove. To many pundits, Kumaraswamy's decision to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is akin to mortgaging the JD(S)'s secular ideology to the Hindutva brigade. Excerpts from an interview Kumaraswamy gave Ravi Sharma just before taking charge.

You had said that the lack of a coordination committee was one of the main stumbling blocks in the Congress-JD(S) coalition. Have you and the BJP decided on one?

We have already discussed this issue three or four times and both parties have come to some conclusions. A coordination committee consisting of two or three members from each party will be set up shortly. And with regard to our government's future programmes, we will finalise a CMP [common minimum programme] which will outline what we should and what we should not do.

You have aligned the JD(S) with the BJP, a party known for its Hindutva agenda. Will you not be made to toe the same line?

BJP leaders B.S. Yediyurappa, Ananth Kumar and Venkaiah Naidu have told me that we should forget things like Hindutva and instead concentrate on the upliftment of the economically poor masses, improve the power situation, create youth programmes, improve rural roads, launch housing schemes.

Yes, but what about the JD(S)'s adherence to secularism?

I don't want to discuss secular idealism. By praying to this secular ideology every day, we cannot uplift the poor masses. This [the secular ideology] is not important for us. Rather, there are lots of problems facing Karnataka and we must concentrate on solving these problems. Our programmes will be different. I do not want to give scope for this secular or communal ideology. We must forget these two ideologies and form a new ideology that would help Karnataka's interests. My philosophy is to solve problems in time.

Are you saying that the BJP has agreed to drop its Hindutva agenda in the interests of forming a new ideology?

It will definitely cooperate with me on this.Do you trust the BJP?

We have decided to form the government with the BJP. So we must have mutual understanding, otherwise the government will not run smoothly.

In effect you are saying that right now they are your friends?

One hundred per cent.

You or other JD (S) legislators have never worked with the BJP. What are your common points of interest?

At the present juncture, no MLA wants to go for a mid-term election. It is for this reason alone that common friends sat together and decided to form this JD(S)-BJP alliance.

What about common interests in developmental work and programmes?

We will discuss these issues with rural-oriented economists. Even in Bangalore city over the past 20 months there has been a lot of criticism regarding the lack of development and infrastructure. I do not want to give scope for this sort of criticism. On the one hand, we have to concentrate on development in rural areas, and on the other, we have to see to the development of Bangalore and other urban areas. We have to satisfy both areas.

Your father is seen as the humble farmer, a champion of the rural masses. But you have lived most of your life in Bangalore, studied in Bangalore...

Yes, I studied in Bangalore city. But I know the problems of the rural areas. I myself have personally faced many of them. I know how to deliver good governance for the rural masses.

But neither you nor Deputy Chief Minister Yediyurappa and the other BJP Ministers have any administrative experience.

This is no problem. I know how to administer.

You have been quoted as saying that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajaypee is your model.

I never said that. What I had said was that during his six-year tenure, Vajpayee did not give room for any communal clashes. I am like myself. If at all I am like somebody, then it has to be my father, whose political life inspired me to join politics.

H.D. Deve Gowda was impressed with your ability to keep the `rebel' MLAs together. But are the grassroots workers also with you?

Grassroots workers are entirely with us.

During this crisis there were many occasions when it looked as if "good sense" dawned on you and you were retracing your steps...

Because of my father's insistence on the secular ideology, I was in a dilemma whether to occupy the Chief Minister's chair or leave it and go back to my father. He kept on saying, `Let's go for a mid-term poll.' But nobody is prepared for this. Even now, my father is our supreme leader. We have confidence in him and treat him like a father figure. It was only because of his insistence on going for mid-term polls that we took the step of aligning with the BJP. During the past 20 months no development work has taken place, so how do we face the people? What will be our fate?