Bengaluru, DHNS: On June 1, 1996, he became the first politician from Karnataka to assume charge as the prime minister of the country. Twenty years down the line, the JD(S) supremo H?D?Deve Gowda still remains relevant in both state and national politics. In a freewheeling interview with Deccan Herald, Gowda, who has achieved several milestones recounts his political and personal journey. Here are the excerpts.

When the United Front chose him as the primeminister candidate

I had never aspired to become the prime minister. When my name was declared, I fell at Jyoti Basu’s (then CPM politburo member) feet and told him not to punish me like this. I told him that he was committing a political blunder by announcing my name.

With tears in my eyes, I asked him to select somebody else. An angry Basu insisted that I accept the assignment. When I informed my wife, she literally cried and said that I was being made a political scapegoat. I painfully accepted the role.

From CM to PM

Not only had I given my head, but also had to endure much backstabbing. It was a nightmarish experience and I almost became mad. There were too many contenders for the chief minister’s post which I was vacating and I had to make some quick decisions. Though J H Patel was the deputy chief minister, Siddaramaiah wanted to make it to the post. It was near impossible for me to convince Siddaramaiah. At Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi, a highly inebriated Patel hurled his footwear at Siddaramaiah for trying to bypass him and become the chief minister.

However, what pains me even to this day is the fact that my own partymen were waiting for my exit. When I resigned as chief minister, my cabinet colleagues didn’t even give me a send off. Even to this day, I suffer sleepless nights because of these painful memories.

Friends and foes

My wife Channamma is my only best friend and confidante. She has stood by me at all times. There were times when we had gone to bed on empty stomachs owing to the circumstances. But, she has never complained. Though she has good knowledge of politics, she never questioned my decision. I reminisce about J?H Patel a lot, who was a fine politician. He always took my side - never a betrayer. He had promised me that he will bring JD(S) and JD(U) together and that would be a gift to me. I am surrounded by many enemies, but I do not want to name them.

Children, grandchildren

Kumaraswamy has always made political gambles. Earlier he never took my counsel, but these days he does. Revanna is constantly worried about my health. There isn’t a temple where he hasn’t offered pooja on my behalf. I have never been able to give much time to my children and grandchildren. But I want to see all my grandchildren getting married. Nikhil (Kumaraswamy’s son) has chosen a career in films. Though I was not happy, I blessed him. I have the horoscopes of my entire family and I am certain that both Nikhil and Prajwal (Revanna’s son) will enter politics one day.

Hot tempered by nature

I have always been hot tempered. As opposition leader, I have flung my spectacles and files when enraged. I used to be a hockey player. I remember having hit a boy called Neelakanta Rao so hard that the hockey stick itself broke. Over the years I have calmed down a lot. However, till date I have one bad habit. Good or bad, I can never accept defeat.