Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday said like the Congress, which was losing its hold in many States to regional parties due to its “dominating character,” the Bharatiya Janata Party's future too was bleak because of its “communal politics and move to divide the secular character of the nation.”
The Congress, which ruled many parts of the country for years, had lost Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and it might not come back to power in Kerala, Karnataka and many other States, the former Prime Minister said.
Talking to The Hindu during the plenary of the JD(S), Mr. Gowda said the main reason for the defeat of a national party like the Congress was its attitude of “intolerance” and its attempt to weaken the regional secular parties. “It always tries to prevent or cut the growth of the secular regional parties and that is bringing a negative image to it.”
The BJP, on other hand, had no clear-cut policy or programme except dividing the nation by taking up Hindutva and religious issues. It too had lost States such as Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. He would not be surprised if it happened in Karnataka too and a mid-term poll was held.
Pointing out that the BJP and the Congress were able to rule for the last 12 years only with the support of regional parties that too only as a coalition Ministry, Mr. Gowda said he saw a bright future for the non-BJP and non-Congress secular regional parties' coalition. “It is bound to happen and there will be a change of government at the Centre and my only wish is that secular parties should not be allowed to drift. Things are moving in the right direction.”
Mr. Gowda said he would extend his full cooperation to the front and guide them with his experience and administrative background. He made it clear that he was not for holding any post or power. He wanted the alternative front against the National Democratic Alliance and the United Progressive Alliance to work out its strategies and policies to make the people believe that the alliance would produce results good for the common man and development of the country.
To a question, Mr. Gowda ruled out the possibility of unification of all the erstwhile Janata parivar (JD-S, Janata Dal (United), Janata Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Indian National Lok Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal, etc). Each party had its regional compulsions and identities. “They have to maintain their own identities in their States. How will the people who fought against each other come together?” he said.
