The protégé has finally become his own master. Once regarded as an acolyte of B.S. Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda appears rattled when he is asked about the Lingayat strongman skipping the poll campaign for the Udupi-Chikmagalur parliamentary seat and is quick to shrug off any impact on the BJP’s victory prospects. As for quitting in favour of BSY, the CM says he will give up his seat only if the party leadership asks him to do so and not because of the former CM’s pressure tactics. Excerpts:

Why should voters of Udupi-Chikmagalur vote for BJP?
During my two-and- half years as MP representing the constituency, I have solved the problems of coffee growers by providing a coffee package, ensuring railway connectivity to Chikmagalur from Kadur, getting Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms relaxed for fishermen and speeding up work on two national highways. People will surely vote for us.

Will infighting in the BJP affect the party’s chances?
The BJP has a strong organisational base here. The infighting will have absolutely no reflection in the bypoll. Infighting is nothing new, it has existed in the past and continues now too. But unlike the Congress, our differences have not stopped us from executing developmental projects.

Have you taken this election as a matter of prestige because of BSY deliberately keeping away from the campaign?
No, not at all. I am an organizational man. I am here to campaign for the party as a BJP worker. You have been in government for four-five months. It is now more than evident that several ministers are not co-operating with you.

As a leader, I have been trying to take my colleagues into confidence, while discharging my duties. If they refuse to co-operate, as a team leader, I will have to discharge my duty. Mr Yeddyurappa says that since he made you CM, you should voluntarily step down from the CM post now that he has received a clean chit from the high court. I was chosen by the party for the CM post with central leaders present as observers. During the election, Mr Yeddyurappa was one of those who proposed my name for the post but ultimately, it was the party leadership which made me CM. All of us — me, Mr Eshwarappa and Mr Yeddyurappa have to abide by the party decision. If the leadership directs me to step down, I will do it but not on the instructions of Mr Yeddyurappa.

Due to the unbearable mental torture by a section in the party, have you made up your mind to resign after presenting the budget?
Why should I resign? These are rumours created by the media. They are encouraging some of our leaders to give anti-party statements.

What are the reasons for your strained relations with Mr Yeddyurappa?
No, We have been maintaining good ties. The media has created an atmosphere of ill-will. I have been visiting his house to take his advice, but the media wants to derail the developmental process in the state by writing baseless articles.

The Congress claims the JD (S) has fielded a candidate to help BJP win.
We have confidence in our strength. In the previous election too, the CPI(M) fielded a candidate who was supported by the JD(S).