As the BJP Government teeters on the brink after Jayalalitha's onslaught, Gowda delineated the contours of a future political arrangement in a chat with Political Editor NEERJA CHOWDHURY. Excerpts:

How do you see the political situation shaping in the coming days?
Today the situation has become so unstable that Cabinet ministers are fighting among themselves. It is most unfortunate. In the past two weeks, the Prime Minister has publicly attacked the Congress that it is using money power to destabilise his government. He went to the extent of making sarcastic comments about vidushaks in politics. That shows that the PM himself senses the instability of his government.

Doyou see the Government going soon?
The Prime Minister himself feels his government is unstable. When Jayalalitha gave a one-hour ultimatum to the PM, he avoided giving a direct reply. One the one hand, he said that Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.R. Kumaramangalam's comments did not have his approval. On the other hand, he said if any ally wanted to withdraw support, they could do so. He is trying to balance both sides.

Which are the two sides?
One, Jayalalitha, whose question he avoided. On the other hand, he did not want to let down his Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

There have been reports, attributed to the Left leaders, that in the event of fall of the Government, the third force should make a bid to form a government...
I have met Harkishen Singh Surjeet several times. He never discussed that with me. He always said without reservation that the Congress should form a government. It is clear to me that the main Opposition, and the second-largest party should not nowhesitate to form a government if this government falls.

So the end of the Government is near?
It all depends on how developments take place in the next month.

Would you elaborate on that?
Jayalalitha has taken a stand on the Vishnu Bhagwat issue and demanded that George Fernandes should be moved to a less sensitive portfolio. It remains to be seen how all this will end. There are indications that during the next month, a lot of political developments will take place.

Would the third force support Sonia Gandhi if she forms a government?
There is no question of any hesitation. At the national level, we will support the Congress. At the state level, we will fight on our own.

That includes Karnataka?
Yes, as things stand, we will go it alone there. Every political party in the third force is fighting their own battles in the states. Do you see the CPI(M) supporting the Congress in West Bengal without liquidating itself? Or Mulayam Singh in UP? But here, at thenational level, we will extend our support wholeheartedly.

What does the `we' mean?
The Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha of Mulayam and Laloo, the Left parties. They have never indicated any doubt (regarding) their intention of removing the BJP.

But Mulayam had dubbed the Congress his enemy number one.
He said that only in anger. It was only the Congress show of non-action to remove the BJP which made him angry.

It is being said that Sonia may agree to support a government headed by you.
That is baseless and imaginary talk. We are all clear Sonia Gandhi should form the government.

That includes the JD, your party?
We have voted already with the Congress.

Is there some disquiet about Sonia being a foreigner?
Why should you think on those lines? Those who want to attack Soniaji may be trying to use these flimsy and fallacious arguments. She is an Indian citizen. As the president of the Congress, she has given a new life to the party.

How do you seethe future of the third force?
The Left parties had convened a meting on February 20th of all the constituents of the United Front except the TDP, and I must compliment Harkishen Singh Surjeet and A.B. Bardhan for their leadership. The third force is going to be revived in one form or another. It may not be under the old labels.

Can the DMK leave you?
The issue does not arise.

But Jayalalitha may also be a part of the alliance at the Centre and in the state, she is an adversary of the DMK.
The alliance of the Congress with Jayalalitha will not affect (state-level alliances) like the fight of the Left (with the Congress) in Kerala and West Bengal or (of Mulayam) in UP or the JD in Karnataka. The DMK and the Left will be together (in Tamil Nadu).

So you will live with these contradictions?
Who is going to form the government is an issue which will come later. The AIADMK may support the (Congress) government from the outside. The Left parties may also do the same.Everybody is ready to support the Congress from outside. Let us see how the developments of the past four or five days finally take shape.

You have led the attack against the government on the issue of the T-90...
I have had a series of correspondence with Fernandes on the purchase of T-90 tanks. The main issue is that without a comparative field test (between T-90 and T0-72s upgraded), the selection of the new tank is not proper. You are going in for field tests (this summer) after the negotiations are completed. I am unable to understand how the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs could approve it. They are saying Pakistan has purchased tanks from Ukraine, and we must also hurry.

But if the T-90s fail, will you go in for another tank?
T-72s are battle-proved. The same technology is updated, one you can get for Rs 5 crore and the other for around Rs 13 crore. I am not certifying one against the other. I am not a trader, a broker or a technocrat. Like me, George is not a technocrat.But why are they not having simultaneous field tests? What is the secrecy? There have to be proper procedures for selection, which have been deviated (from). I am going to place all these things in Parliament.

How come you are talking about Army purchases of the T-90 tank along with the Bhagwat affair?
The tank affair is not linked to the Bhagwat affair. It started much earlier. This is purely an Army matter.

I wrote to George Fernandes first as far back as November 10, which is before the Bhagwat affair. I have written four times to George since November. He did not reply till 10 days ago. I also wrote to the Prime Minister four or five times. I just received an acknowledgement, nothing more.

Did you also write to the President? He is after all the Supreme Commander of the defence forces.
I wrote to him. I don't want to say more. It would not be proper for me.