Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Wednesday asserted that his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not linked to the Rajya Sabha seat and would continue irrespective of whether he is still a Senator or not.
The JD(S) president said the relationship between the two leaders was a personal bond forged over the past decade.
Gowda’s remarks come against the backdrop of Congress criticizing the BJP, an ally of the JD(S), for not nominating the former prime minister to the Rajya Sabha again, and instead naming his party’s candidate for the Senate.
The BJP beats its ally Gowda to get the RSP seat
On June 8, the BJP announced Prof M Nagaraja as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha, replacing Gowda, whose Janata Dal (Secular) is an ally of the saffron party. The move has raised curiosity about how Gowda and his JD(S) party will react.
Addressing a press conference here amid speculation about the JD(S) not seeking a Rajya Sabha berth, the 93-year-old party patriarch said he had no regrets about not continuing in the Rajya Sabha and rejected suggestions that his association with Modi was motivated by political considerations. His current term in Republika Srpska ends later this month.
“The people of this state and this country should not think that my relationship with Modi depends on the Rajya Sabha seat,” Gowda said.
The JD(S) had no reason to look for a place to sleep
Stating that he welcomed Union Minister and his son H D Coomaraswamy’s announcement that the JD(S), with only 18 MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly, would not seek a Rajya Sabha seat, Gowda said there was no reason for the party to insist on a place when the BJP, with 63 legislators, could comfortably secure a seat.
How did relations between Gowda and Modi develop?
Recalling his interactions with Modi, Gowda said the relationship between the two leaders developed after the latter became Prime Minister in 2014 despite their differences in the past.
“In 2014, when Modi won 282 Lok Sabha seats and could have formed a government on his own, he chose to form an NDA government with his allies,” Gowda said.
He recalled that he had strongly criticized Modi over the Godhra issue (Gujarat riots) when the latter was the chief minister of that state, but said their engagement had increased over the years.
“But after he became prime minister, our relationship has evolved. That relationship over the last 10 years was not built for the Rajya Sabha seat. It is a personal bond,” he added.
“No leader can compete with Modi”
Seeking to clarify his stand, the former Prime Minister stressed that people should not get the wrong impression that his relationship with Modi has ended as he is no longer a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Gowda reiterated his support for Modi’s leadership and said he has consistently supported the Prime Minister in the work he has done over the past decade.
“In all circumstances, I stood with Prime Minister Modi because of the work he has done over the past 10 years for the overall development of the country,” he said.
Gowda credits Modi
The former Prime Minister said that he does not see any contemporary leader capable of matching Modi’s stature.
“India is a vast country with a population of 145 crore people and faces many challenges. I don’t think there is any other leader today who can compete with Modi. Let’s be frank,” he said.
Gowda credited Modi with boosting the economy, enhancing India’s defense capabilities and raising the country’s international standing.
“At the international level as well, Modi is recognized as a major leader, not just within India. He enjoys great stature abroad as well. There is no other leader who has risen to this level,” he added.
The nonagenarian leader said he remained committed to strengthening the JD(S) in Karnataka despite his advanced age and physical limitations.
He also said that he will continue to participate in party activities, local body election preparations and public affairs as long as his health allows.
