Bengaluru: Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda has said that unlike BJP veteran LK Advani he is not going to retire from active politics. Former PM said that he will stand by Rahul Gandhi if latter becomes Prime Minister of India.
Talking about his decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls, Deve Gowda said, "I announced three years back that I will not contest elections. There are circumstances in which I have been forced to contest. There is nothing to hide. I have no ambition of anything but what I always said is that I am not going to retire from active politics."
Deve Gowda is contesting from Karnataka's Tumkur parliamentary constituency against GS Basvaraj of BJP.
When asked if he wants to retire like Advani, he replied with an emphatic 'no', adding, "I want to save my party first and last the office building."
Commenting on his son and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's statement that there is a possibility that Deve Gowda might become Prime Minister as a consensus candidate, he said, "I am not bothered about this. My concern is Modi will come to Parliament. I have got the guts and conviction to tell it on the face of the PM. I have the courage. If Rahul Gandhi becomes Prime Minister, I will stand by his side. It is not necessary to be the Prime Minister."
Speaking about his commitment to the Congress, he said, "Madam Sonia Gandhi has taken the decision to support Deve Gowda even though we are a small party. Now it is my responsibility to move forward with Congress.
Responding to accusations of saving his family rather than party, JD(S) chief said, "Several leaders who worked with me collectively, have left. Some people are in Congress, some in BJP. I was able to keep the party intact but suffered. I have not allowed my family members to become party chief."
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