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V Dhananjay Kumar, leader of the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), tells Gyan Varma that the party will not join hands with either the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or Janata Dal (Secular) after the state election results are out. Excerpts:
You had levelled serious corruption allegations against L K Advani and other senior leaders of the BJP, but didn't take the issue forward. Why?
I have not made any allegations against senior BJP leader L K Advani, but it is the truth. I didn't make any direct allegation against anyone. I had said that Advani's children are meddling in all the states where BJP is in power. I have proof to substantiate my claims. I will give all proof if my statements are challenged in the court. Advani came to Karnataka for election campaign, but didn't respond to my statements. I have proof against Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar also, which I will present in the court, if needed.
Now that the voting is over and counting is scheduled for May 8, do you think it is possible for the KJP to join hands with the Congress party in the state?
KJP will get a good number of seats in the assembly elections and the party will play a dominant role in government formation after the results are announced. The KJP leadership has already taken a decision that it will not join hands with either BJP or Janata Dal (Secular). Once the results are out, we will discuss and take appropriate decision.
The Lingayat vote share, which is approximately 21 per cent, seems to have been divided between the BJP and B S Yeddyurappa. In your opinion, how many seats will KJP win?
No, I don't think the Lingayat vote share and support for former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa faced any major change. The Lingayat community voted for Yeddyurappa and there was mood in favour of Yeddyurappa in the state. People want to see him as the chief minister again.
Is it not true that Yeddyurappa is playing the role of a spoiler in the assembly election than a strong contender to form government? How many seats will he spoil for BJP?
Yeddyurappa wants to be the king and if people perish in the process then we should not be blamed. KJP is not the party which is spoiling chances of any other political party. We want to play a major role in Karnataka politics.
Now when you look back, what were biggest mistakes of BJP before the elections? BJP leaders say they are suffering because of Yeddyurappa...
The BJP leadership came to their senses very late. More than the opposition parties, it was the BJP leadership with active help of central leadership that projected B S Yeddyurappa as the most corrupt chief minister. But the court gave relief to Yeddyurappa and there are a few private complaints (against him) which are all baseless. Yeddyurappa had to leave the party because some of the central leaders repeatedly conspired against him and there were not many options left for Yeddyurappa. Now the BJP leadership realises its mistake.
BJP vice-president Uma Bharati recently said that Yeddyurappa should be back in BJP. Is that a possibility?
There are people in the BJP who have very high regard for Yeddyurappa.
But, such leaders are helpless because they are not involved in the decision-making process of the party. That is the main problem of the BJP.
Is it possible that the KJP will become part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is made the Prime Ministerial candidate?
This is too early to say.
We will take a decision as when the occasion arises. We will take an appropriate decision. The final decision will be taken only after the Lok Sabha elections. Nobody is untouchable for KJP except the BJP leadership in Karnataka.
