Deve Gowda Reaffirms JD(S)–NDA Alliance, Launches Strong Attack on Siddaramaiah at Party’s Silver Jubilee Event

Bengaluru, Nov 2025 : Former Prime Minister and JD(S) National President H.D. Deve Gowda on Saturday firmly reiterated that the Janata Dal (Secular) would remain committed to its alliance with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserting that there was no question of breaking ties with the ruling coalition at the Centre. Addressing party workers at the JD(S) Silver Jubilee celebrations in Bengaluru, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and declared that the party’s political course was “clear and unwavering.”

“We have complete faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” Gowda said, adding that the alliance was rooted in trust and national interest. “We stand firmly with the NDA. Our leaders and party workers must never forget this.”

Positioning the JD(S) within India’s broader political landscape, the former Prime Minister remarked, “In the North, it is JD(U) and in the South, it is JD(S). There it is Nitish Kumar, and here it is Kumaraswamy.” He described Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as an experienced and sharp political leader who had taken oath multiple times and played a significant role in national politics.

Gowda also recalled the party’s legacy of resistance during the Emergency era. “We worked alongside Jayaprakash Narayan and the then-BJP during the country’s second freedom struggle. In the interest of the nation, such collective work must continue. The Congress must be taught a lesson for its misgovernance,” he said.

Sharp Attack on Siddaramaiah

In one of the most aggressive segments of his speech, Deve Gowda launched a blistering attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of distorting history and maligning the JD(S). Gowda was responding to Siddaramaiah’s recent remark in Chamarajanagar, where the Chief Minister claimed he would never have become CM had he stayed with the JD(S).

“I was ready to make him Chief Minister,” Gowda asserted. Recounting events from the coalition era, he said, “Sonia Gandhi insisted on making Dharam Singh the Chief Minister. In Kashmir, you made Ghulam Nabi Azad the Deputy CM and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed the Chief Minister. In the same way, I went to Sonia Gandhi’s doorstep three times requesting her to make Siddaramaiah the CM of Karnataka. If he wants clarity, let him ask her—she is still alive.”

Gowda accused Siddaramaiah of twisting facts for political gain. “You never speak the truth. You say whatever suits you at the moment. But Sonia Gandhi and the late Ahmed Patel know the truth. You said you must be our CM candidate or you would contest separately. Left with no choice, we agreed,” he claimed.

The veteran leader also revealed the financial struggles the party faced during Siddaramaiah’s tenure as its leader. He narrated that to help the party contest and win 58 seats, he borrowed ₹2 crore at midnight from a land dealer named Channappa. “Where was Siddaramaiah then? When you speak, show some integrity. Do not lie,” Gowda said sternly.

“What Scholar Are You?”: Gowda Questions Siddaramaiah’s Credentials

Continuing his tirade, Gowda questioned Siddaramaiah’s claims about his administrative achievements and political grooming. “Ramakrishna Hegde served as Chief Minister for eight years. Did he make you Finance Minister? It was I who made you Finance Minister—not Hegde, not S.R. Bommai,” he said.

Challenging Siddaramaiah’s often-cited intellectual credentials, he asked, “What scholar are you? Did you study finance at Oxford University? Are you a Supreme Court lawyer? You are not even a High Court lawyer. You handled only one or two cases in Mysuru.”

Referring to Siddaramaiah’s earlier postings, Gowda noted, “Hegde made you Chairman of the Kannada Kavalu Samithi. Later, you handled Animal Husbandry or some other small department. When Veerappa Moily was Chief Minister and the government had no money to pay salaries, ₹200 crore was borrowed from Peerless Company. Then you were made Finance Minister. The state’s finances were in bad shape, and I appointed you in that role to stabilise them. That was my mistake,” he said with regret.

The JD(S) patriarch added that he had shed tears over Siddaramaiah’s attitude even after elevating him to posts such as Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister. “He should remember that,” Gowda remarked.

Internal Party Rifts and Past Decisions

Gowda also shared insights into internal party disputes. “When I suggested making Siddaramaiah the State President, late Ramakrishna Hegde held my hand and said, ‘Make anyone you want, but not this man.’ I ignored Hegde’s advice,” he admitted.

He also referred to tensions within the party at the time of the AHINDA movement launched by Siddaramaiah. “I told them to hold the convention on the party platform. They did not listen and conducted it separately in Hubballi. Finally, I had no option but to expel him. I have no regrets. Many such people have come and gone. I am not afraid,” Gowda emphasized.

Turning to other leaders, he rebuked allegations that he had risen due to the influence of Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and R.L. Jalappa. “I approved a medical college for Kharge’s community and named it after Devaraj Urs. Today, it has become the private property of the Jalappa family instead of belonging to the community. This is their idea of social justice!” he remarked.

Commitment to Strengthen JD(S)

Concluding his address, the former Prime Minister assured party workers that he remained fully committed to rebuilding and strengthening the JD(S). “I will go wherever I am needed. Deve Gowda is not someone who sits idle,” he said, receiving thunderous applause from the gathering.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)