The BJP had planned to replicate the Uttar Pradesh experiment at the Centre by supporting a government by regional parties for at least one year. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde was to head this government.
However, the plan did not take off because an image-conscious Hegde refused to take the plunge. The fact that Hegde was suffering from spondilitis, which forced him to take rest, also came in the way.
According to a BJP leader, the plan failed because of Hedges inability to elicit requisite support from the Janata Dal MPs from Karnataka. Hegde said he did not want to associate with the BJP because of differences with some of its policies.
More From This Section
I am not interested in becoming Prime Minister, he said, when asked why he refused to take the plunge at a time when he had the chance to provide leadership to the nation. I am very conscious of my reputation and I do not want to spoil it by being seen as one trying to occupy an office, he added.
The BJP strategists, comprising its general secretaries, had conveyed the partys readiness to make Hegde the Prime Minister, if he could split the JDs Karnataka unit and garnered the support of at least 70 Lok Sabha members.
Hegde was supposed to get the support from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Asom Gana Parishad and other smaller groups. The BJPs alliance partners, particularly the Shiv Sena, the Akali Dal, the Samata Party and the Haryana Vikas Party could also join the government under the plan, a BJP leader said. The BJPs support was to be for a period of one year, after which the country was to go to polls. The party anticipated that Hegde would, in return, help it establish a national alliance in the south for contesting the Lok Sabha polls. The plan had the backing from party president L K Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Two prominent general secretaries from the BJP met Hegde with this proposal, immediately after the Congress withdrew support for the ten-month-old Deve Gowda government. Hegde had a telephonic talk with Advani.
Hegde failed to gather support even from Karnataka JD MPs, whom he claimed to be his supporters, a BJP office-bearer said. The BJP thought some of the regional parties, which had public reservations in associating with the BJP, would not mind joining such a government, he said. However, for this to happen Hegde had to play an active role.
Hegde says he has differences with BJPs policy
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde expressed his reservations with the BJP on three counts the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, the partys stand on the uniform civil code and on the status of Article 370, that gives a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
It were these that forced him not to openly associate with the BJP even when the party proposed that he could get its support to become Prime Minister.
There is something called reputation and credibility in politics and I cannot compromise these, he asserted. He said that he had been critical of the BJP and its policies and his reputation would suffer in case he decided to associate with the BJP for office.
However, Hegde had high praise for some of the BJP leaders, particularly party president LK Advani. He congratulated Advani when he was acquitted of hawala charges. I was happy that an honest person like him got acquitted, Hegde said.
There are many leaders in the BJP who are patriots and the party is perhaps the only one left which has a quality leadership, Hegde says. He praised the two speeches of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, one seeking the confidence vote in favour of this 13-day government and the other the Presidents address. If the BJPs policies were what was reflected through these speeches, none would have objections to the party, he said.
Yet, Hegde refuses to associate with the BJP. The simple reason is that he does play his cards right now. I have started a new party and I dont have the strength of numbers and hence I cannot make suggestions without being asked.
However, I will welcome any effort from the BJP and the Congress to provide an effective, durable and honest government, he said. Asked about his partys likely electoral alliance, he said he would take a decision when elections approach.
Hegde is scheduled to meet the election commissioners today in order to get his party, Lok Shakti recognised as a political party.