‘Siddaramaiah has not changed’

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Bengaluru: Many in the party, particularly those in the coterie of Chief Minister Siddaram­aiah, feel that Karnataka Prad­esh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dr G. Parameshwar is out to create problems for the CM.
They tend to read everything, from his act of sending a letter to the chief minister to giving interviews to newspapers, as an act of defiance. But Dr Parameshwar is not an easy politician to fathom.
Whatever may be his detractors' views, his contributions to the party during the assembly elections are unquestionable like his commitment to the Congress. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, the KPCC chief spoke about various issues, his defeat in the elections and his relations with the chief minister. Here are excerpts from the interview 
Your party came to power, but you lost the elections in Koratagere. Now that two months have elapsed, you may not mind opening up on the poll defeat.
I was contesting the elections from Koratagere and was also working as the president of the party state unit. I did not have ample time to campaign for myself as I was busy campaigning across the state. 
I was disappointed with my loss and therefore, kept to myself for a while. Naturally, if I had won, I would have been in the CM race. Even my supporters were shocked and disappointed. I did not go to the constituency. They came to my residence to lend me moral support.
Can you disclose now who sabotaged your prospects?
Do you know something interesting? This time I got 8,500 votes more that what I polled in the last elections in 2008 and I still lost. In the last elections, I had three opponents who polled over 30,000 votes each. This time, the BJP failed to get a significant vote share. I misread the situation, so, I should not blame anyone else for my defeat.
What is your next goal as an individual?
I do not have any personal ambition. As KPCC president, I have my task cut out. Our government should do well and we should get as many parliamentary seats as possible in the Lok Sabha polls.
You have been saying that the party can win more than 25 of the 28 seats. But, if former chief minister B.S. Yeddyur­appa goes back to BJP, do you think the Congress can win so many?
Do you think people will forgive Yeddyurappa if he goes back to the BJP now? He has not been cleared of charges as yet. Does a party that took action against him, allow him to return so easily?
If the BJP does so, they will be exposed. In other words, their action will send out a clear signal that they accept and promote corrupt practices. People can easily see through such designs and may not endorse their candidates.
You have seen what happened in Jharkand. The Congress entered into an alliance with JMM, a party known for the many scams it indulged in. How will you oppose BSY’s return to the BJP?The ethics of Indian politics has changed. Many principles have been compromised over the years. Such developments are the order of the day.
But, there is a difference between the JMM and Yeddyurappa who has been indicted in a Lokayukta report (on illegal mining). How can the BJP defend his re-entry? I personally feel single-party rule, particularly by the Congress alone, can give a clean government. The story would have been different in Maharashtra too if the Congress had got a majority. We do not encourage illegal acts.
After he became chief minister, what changes do you see in Siddaramaiah?
Nothing much. He remains the same old Siddaramaiah.
It seems there is a fight for dominance between you and Siddaramaiah.
Not at all. He is the chief minister of the state and I am the president of the ruling party. We have two different roles. I will not interfere in his work. The party has given him a free hand. As a party, we wholeheartedly support his initiatives.
The Re 1 a kg rice scheme was criticised by many from the apolitical spectrum. They feel it is negative in nature. How will you defend this?
We have to look at it from a different perspective. It is a social welfare scheme aimed at bringing the poor into the mainstream. Such schemes cannot go forever. The famous scheme of Roti, Kapada aur Makaan no longer exists. We have to bear the burden till this section is empowered and once they join  the mainstream, the scheme can be stopped.
Many in the party perceive your writing a letter to the CM on the Congress manifesto implementation and the submission of a memorandum by party office bearers as an attempt to get the DCM post. Comment
No. You know very well that in our party, posts cannot be obtained through such acts. My letter is to ensure that officers in the finance and other departments get a copy of the manifesto and ensure they are included in the right perspective. There is nothing more to it.
Your party leaders want you to become deputy chief minister but the CM has virtually ruled out the possibility. When will it happen?
I do not have personal ambitions. My office bearers and workers feel so because they thought I too had contributed to the victory of the Congress. I can’t stop them. I am not the one to decide on this. It is the party high command which has to take a decision. There is no deadline or time frame for this.