A few days ago, he was sacked from BJP to test the reaction of his mentor, B.S. Yeddyurappa. The four-time MP from Mangalore, V. Dhananjay Kumar remained unfazed and has been elected interim president of Karnataka Janata Party (KJP).
Mr Kumar, who vows not to contest the assembly poll, wants to build KJP from the grassroots, after passing the baton to B.S. Yeddyurappa. He claims his party will get at least 60 seats in the polls. Excerpts from an interview.
Q: You have been elected interim president of KJP. What next?
A: Before answering your question, I would like to recall how KJP happened. When Mr Yeddyurappa was searching for a suitable name, preferably a name that should have "Janata" in it, we came to know about KJP. Prasanna Kumar is a nephew of Hottepaksha Rangaswamy who contested a record number of elections and had registered KJP with the Election Commission in 2011.
By the time we reached an understanding on the name, I was expelled from BJP and later made KJP president. Probably, I will step down the day Mr Yeddyurappa quits BJP.
The poll panel has amended its rule on allotting symbols. A party which can contest more than 10 per cent of the total seats will be eligible to get a symbol. We would like to get a symbol before the December 9 rally at Haveri.
Q: Mr Yeddyurappa says yours will be an all-inclusive party. How can leaders associated with Sangh Parivar be secular and reach out to the minorities?
A: The minorities like Mr Yeddyurappa because he as CM, allotted more than Rs 350 crore for their welfare. We will reach out to them with a ‘bijli, sadak, paani’ agenda. Nearly 25-30 per cent of minorities will vote for KJP.
Q: How is KJP is different from other parties?
A: Our motto is to protect land, water and the state’s culture. Take, for example, the Cauvery issue. Both national parties failed to live upto expectations. And JD (S) was no exception.
Q: But history has a different tale to tell. Regional parties have never succeeded in Karnataka.
A: Mr Yeddyurappa is far more popular than late S. Bangarappa. He has struck a chord among the voiceless and microscopic castes.
Q: Do you think a persoanlity centric party can succeed where an ideology driven BJP has failed?
A: Do you think the BJP government is being run on ideology? Problems cropped up when ideology was diluted. See what’s happening in Gujarat. It is Narendra Modi all the way. The BJP minus Modi is zero. Mr Modi single-handedly changed the face of Gujarat. If you fulfil promises, people back you.
Q: How does your party deal with the issue of corruiption when the leader himself is facing serious corruption charges?
A: Who is not facing charges? All those who are in power are being targeted. Personalities like Nitin Gadkari and Robert Vadra, who are not in power, are caught in scams. You know the Lokayukta charges against BSY were quashed by the high court. For people, the charges do not exist. They simply love him.
Q: In hindsight, what do you think BJP should have done to retain Mr Yeddyurappa?
A: Mr Santosh(BJP organising secretary) virtually runs the government. How can it be ethical? Had BJP expelled Santosh, K.S. Eshwarappa and Ananth Kumar, Yeddyurappa would have stayed back.
Q: Is it ethical for BJP ministers to attend the KJP convention at Haveri on December 9?
A: Who said they will sit on the dais? They can be part of the public. Did the BJP take any action against MPs J. Shantha and Sanna Fakirappa, who associated with BSR Congress. Nothing will happen.
Q: Do you think, the BJP government will go after the December 9 rally?
A: Even if the government falls, elections will not be held before February. The poll panel needs time. Till then, President’s rule will be in force which will be worse.