HD Deve Gowda has been in active politics for over six decades and at 84, the country’s former prime minister is still going strong. Months before the Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Janata Dal-Secular chief has already toured the State. He spoke to BusinessLine on the prevailing political scenario in Karnataka and the country.

What is the mood you see in the run-up to the elections next year?

With six decades of experience in both State and national politics, and observing and watching the public mood, I clearly see people comparing the performance of the current government with those of JD(S), BJP and Congress governments of the past.

What is the JD(S)’s main mission for the Assembly election this time?

At this age I am travelling 300 km a week to strengthen the party. We have set for ourselves a clear mission: to retain our stronghold of Old Mysore and expand in coastal Karnataka, Mumbai-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions.

As for our manifesto, we have already announced a few programmes.

Like enhancing assistance of ₹6,000 per month for pregnant ladies — earlier, only on delivery was a small amount given. And an increase in old-age pension. The State government gives shaadi-bhagya only to Muslims; we want to extend it to other sections of society as well. We also intend to announce loan waiver for farmers and a low interest rate for big borrowers.

The JD(S) is seen as a father-son party. How are you projecting the party’s image to the people this election season?

Circumstances led to the entry of my children and grandchildren into politics. I did not handhold them.

(HD) Revanna has come up on his own in milk cooperatives and (former chief minister HD) Kumaraswamy was a businessman-movie producer before a few party (JD-S) leaders lured him into taking control of the party. As for as my grandson (Prajwal Revanna), he is a BE graduate. Unfortunately, I could not get him a business of his liking. Recently, he was misguided by a few party members.

Now, I have given him a role as the party’s general sectary tasked with building the party in Mumbai-Karnataka.

In this election, the JD(S) will project the development works initiated by Kumaraswamy; and he is leading the party. Many projects that he started are half-finished, and during my tour of the State people still recognise the party for such policies.

There are reports of a swing in favour of the JD(S) as the people are unenthused with the Congress and the BJP.But some have also said that the JD(S) does not have candidates of its own and may look for post-poll alliances, like in 2004.

We have begun the exercise of identifying candidates at the grassroots level. The party is currently holding caste-wise and community-wise samavesha s (appraisals) in the Coastal, Mumbai-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions.

Once they are identified, they will be groomed. Once we have experimented this during the Assembly elections, we are confident that it [the mechanism] will get further strengthened before the Lok Sabha polls.

This Assembly election do you see change of guard taking place?

Yes, 100 per cent. We have made up our mind that if we don’t get numbers, we will sit in the Opposition. In the past, we have had bitter experience of supporting the Congress. We also suffered for taking the support of the BJP.

Now both national parties are trying to demolish us. We are now working on a strategy to take on the national parties and prove we can.

Now, three States are going to the polls. How will it impact Karnataka elections?

A few people have created [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s popularity. I did not see such popularity anywhere in the State during my travels. But one thing is for sure: as election season kicks in, I think the standard of public speeches or discourse, be it from the Congress or from the BJP, is set to go down to the lowest.

How do you see the working of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi?

The media has a huge role to play in strengthening our democracy. Unfortunately, except a few media houses, all others are toeing the line of the Union government or harping on Modi’s development model.

How do you see Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as Congress chief?

I cannot jump and judge his quality of leadership. One should give him time to settle. Unfortunately, UPA-2 made many mistakes and that made Modi to come to power.

How do the Opposition parties intend to take on the BJP in the 2019 elections?

Let’s be honest: the misfortune of this country is that some have gone and joined the NDA alliance.

Mulayam’s [Samajwadi patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav] house is broken into pieces. So in the next parliamentary elections in 2019, there is a likelihood that regional parties may come together, barring a few.

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