Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda on Wednesday said his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not dependent on holding a Rajya Sabha seat, asserting that the bond between the two leaders would continue regardless of his parliamentary status. Addressing a press conference amid speculation over his political future, the Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch said his association with Modi was based on a personal relationship developed over the past decade and was not driven by electoral or political considerations.

The 93-year-old leader also stated that he had no regrets about not continuing as a member of the Rajya Sabha after the end of his current term later this month. His remarks came after the BJP, an ally of the JD(S) in Karnataka, chose not to renominate him to the Upper House. Instead, the party announced academic and educationist M Nagaraja as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha on June 8, a decision that triggered discussions about the future of the BJP-JD(S) alliance and Gowda’s role within it.

The development also prompted criticism from the Congress, which accused the BJP of overlooking a former prime minister despite the alliance between the two parties. Political observers had been closely watching the response from Gowda and the JD(S), given expectations in some quarters that the veteran leader might seek another term in Parliament.

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However, Gowda sought to downplay the significance of the decision, reiterating that his ties with Modi transcended political positions. He rejected suggestions that his support for the Prime Minister or his engagement with the BJP stemmed from a desire to secure a Rajya Sabha berth.

The statement is being viewed as an attempt to reinforce the stability of the BJP-JD(S) partnership despite the Rajya Sabha nomination decision. With his current term nearing its conclusion, Gowda indicated that public service and political engagement would continue, irrespective of whether he remains a member of the Upper House.

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