DV Sadananda Gowda, former chief minister, former Union minister and Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency MP is confident about the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), returning to power while pooh-poohing talks about the anti-incumbency factor haunting the present dispensation. In a freewheeling chat, he shared his views about the prospects of his party in the ensuing state Assembly elections.
Q: According to some pre-poll surveys the opposition Congress party appears to be having an upper hand. What do you say?DV Sadananda Gowda: No, I don’t think so. Making sound systems will not give the result. Of course, they have got a good gang of Congress leaders who can shout at the BJP, who can create some false narratives against the BJP and who can just find fault at the ruling party, which they have not done for a very long period of time. However, people are very well aware of the activities of the BJP for the past several years and especially after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country…
…Karnataka No. 1 in many sectors: No state has been deprived of developmental funds, irrespective of the parties in power in the states. Karnataka is one such state which is Number One as far as the business sector is concerned. We are number one in GDP and when it comes to GST, we are the number one state contributing the maximum GST. All these things are enough indications to prove that whenever the BJP comes to power, BS Yediyurappa, subsequent chief ministers and now Basavaraj Bommai, any BJP tenure is the golden period for the state of Karnataka…
…People are very happy: People are very happy with the present administration and especially the central government is giving plenty of funds under various projects. Earlier, even though the central government released enough funds, the Congress government in the state grossly misused the same. But, at present Bommai, and earlier Yediyurappa and others did extremely well in utilizing the same. You name the sector and the state government has performed in it, like IT, Transport, Road infrastructure etc. About 4-5 years back, there was a scarcity of power supply, but these days, there has been a turnaround on the ground situation. Hence, I don’t think that people will vote for Congress…
Q: Interestingly for Karnataka, since 1978 whichever party comes to power does so because of the anti-incumbency factor against the previous party in power. Even now, multiple surveys are hinting at the same. What do you feel?
DV Sadananda Gowda: I don’t think so. Anti-incumbency factor, of course in the political scenario has come to be told at the time of every general election against the ruling party. But, it’s not like that. Now both, the central government and the state government are aiming in the same direction, unlike the situation earlier. Interestingly, for the past 20-25 years the state underwent a peculiar political situation. If there was a Congress government in the centre, it used to be a regional party government here. Or, if there was a BJP government here, it used to be a Congress government there. As a result, there used to be some gaps between the ruling parties here and the centre…
…There could be small mistakes: Anti-incumbency factor comes only when the ruling party in the state doesn’t utilize the central funds properly to the need of the people while the second reason is that the anti-incumbency factor is not the creation of the ruling party. Anti-incumbency factors by default like wrongdoings of the ruling party, then automatically you will find anti-incumbency factors. But, as far as our party is concerned since the last three years after Yediyurappa and Bommai became the chief minister there is no such thing. And as we didn’t have enough majority to form a government on our own and some of the legislators of other parties were impressed with the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and came to us to form a government here. Maybe, there could be some small mistakes but not to the extent of developing into an anti-incumbency factor.
Q: It looks like the BJP is focusing a lot on the old Mysuru region for opening an account and also to enable the party to get a clear majority. What is your take?
DV Sadananda Gowda: We are trying our best. Old Mysuru region earlier was a witness to caste-based elections just because one major community is supporting a regional party. But now it is not like that and in the last 7-8 years people have realized that just caste-based politics will not suffice for development. When people are benefitted from the measures taken up by the administration, certainly there will also be a change in the mindset of people which was missing all these years. These days’ people want a good administration, both at the state and the centre and that’s the big game changer in the old Mysuru region. Especially, the youngsters are mad at Modi and the feeling is bound to impact the party in a positive way. Good governance and development will definitely help the BJP…
…Prime position on the international map: Even in Bengaluru, the suburban railway, Metro, Transport, everywhere you have any number of projects being implemented under the Smart City initiatives. They have taken a new shape for the city’s infrastructure development to occupy a prime position on the international scene. Of course, these days unemployment is an issue being discussed at the national level. Employment is no more a subject restricted to the government and creating an environment for enabling jobs in the private sector is also a gigantic task and both governments are engaged in the same. Providing skill development and extending sufficient financial assistance are all part of these efforts. Irrigation and Farm sectors have been given the maximum importance in the recently presented state budget.
Q: At the same time, there has been a lot of anger from Bengalureans against the pathetic conditions of roads, potholes and basic civic amenities. Don’t you think that all these lacunae will adversely affect the BJP in Bengaluru?
DV Sadananda Gowda: No no, I will tell you for some reasons and it is not because of us people. It rained throughout the year and whenever we tried to fill the potholes, the next day it used to rain. It was the same case with asphalting. Continuously for eight months we had rains and it was not for an administrative fault that repair works were not undertaken, people are also aware of that. Now all such works are on the right track.
Q: The role of 14 Congress and three JDS MLAs’ in forming a BJP government has also given rise to a strange situation in all these 17 constituencies. BJP supporters, and leaders formerly rivals of these MLAs’ are forced to toe the party line. However, in some of them, the BJP leaders have deserted the party. Do you think that this will impact the party prospects?
DV Sadananda Gowda: Yes, I do agree with you, as there was a small gap between the new entrants and the original party workers and leaders. But now and over a period of time most of these differences have been sorted out in a large way. Yes, we owed them and because of them, we could form a government of our own. Now that all of them have been made ministers and whatever is required, the differences look to be addressed in an amicable manner. I don’t say it’s done a hundred per cent, but by and large, the position is better now.
Q: How about the party prospects in the coastal districts, Mangaluru, Udupi and Malnad districts?
DV Sadananda Gowda: We had 22 out of the total 29 seats in the coastal districts and this time around we hope to retain the same numbers. Even in the Malnad districts also, we will be doing very well.
-Manohar Yadavatti
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