BENGALURU: The consequence of the approaching Assembly elections in Karnataka will herald a starting and open the door for the Congress within the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, says the celebration’s State unit chief D Ok Shivakumar. In an interview with PTI, he sounded upbeat in regards to the celebration’s prospects within the May ten polls to the 224-member Assembly, saying it will win 141 seats. The ruling BJP was deploying its whole central management for campaigning within the State out of worry of dropping the May 10 polls, he stated and asserted the ‘Modi issue’ won’t work within the southern State, the place persons are purely targeted on native and developmental points. Shivakumar stated there isn’t a tussle between him and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister’s publish, and that the one intention now was to defeat the BJP on the hustings and be sure that the Congress involves energy.
In the occasion of the celebration profitable, the excessive command, “on its own electoral process,” will take a name on the CM, he stated. Siddaramaiah had additionally made the same assertion final week in an interview to PTI. The 60-year-old Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President (KPCC) stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are “disturbed” by the ballot “guarantees” introduced by his celebration as “they could not deliver what they promised”.
Following are the excerpts from the interview:
Q. Whether the Assembly polls are solely on native points or there’s additionally going to be a Modi versus Rahul contest?
A. No, it’s on no account related to Modi or some other nationwide leaders, it’s related to the administration of Karnataka, how Karnataka authorities has failed, what Congress celebration can do. This is a really peace-loving state, folks of Karnataka are extremely mature. Karnataka is the gateway for the financial growth of this nation. They (BJP) are elevating emotional points, we wish to consider growth points. Price rise is affecting each frequent man, we wish to assist them out.
For three-and-half years there was BJP’s “double engine” authorities, which has utterly failed. There was Global Investors’ Meet, authorities claimed there have been funding proposals price Rs 10 lakh crore, however in locations the place BJP is powerful like Malnad or coastal area, not even a single investor has gone to create jobs; unemployment is excessive. Karnataka can be the data capital and after unwarranted emotive points corresponding to hijab and halal performed out, I feel persons are afraid. Such issues are creating issues for the event of the state.
Q. On the significance of Karnataka election consequence for the revival of the Congress celebration nationally.
A. Definitely it’ll open the doorways, it’s the starting. It would be the starting for the unity on the nationwide stage, and for the Congress celebration for 2024. Karnataka folks will give a message to the nation. Earlier additionally on the time of Devraj Urs (former CM), when Janata Party was in energy on the nationwide stage, Karnataka had opened the door for Congress, now once more Karnataka will play its function.
Q. On Congress’ prospects within the polls.
A. I nonetheless stand by quantity 141, on the idea of surveys, my huge political expertise –as I’ve been within the Assembly for the final 35 years, I’ve contested eight elections, misplaced one, gained in seven– I do know political arithmetic and social engineering. We will get via with an enormous quantity.
Q. On the ‘tussle’ between him and Siddaramaiah for the CM’s publish.
A. Where is the tussle? you present me one instance, one incident, one small distinction in something. I have not cried like (BJP chief B S) Yediyurappa did for the publish. We have stood united we’ve got labored unitedly, we’re preventing unitedly. Our principal intention is to see to it that BJP is defeated and Congress celebration involves energy.
Q. On whether or not that is one of the best probability for him to develop into the CM, since he’s the KPCC President.
A. It will not be me, which is the difficulty immediately, it’s the Congress celebration. The Congress celebration has to return to energy. The Chief Minister shall be determined after the election by the Congress celebration excessive command by itself electoral course of.
Q. On PM Narendra Modi criticising the Congress on its ballot ensures, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman saying it’ll require Rs one lakh crore for his or her implementation yearly.
A. Prime Minister and Finance Minister are very a lot disturbed, as a result of they might not ship what they promised. You take their earlier manifesto, they’d promised ten hours of energy, why did not they offer? They had promised Rs one lakh mortgage waiver to the farmers, they’d promised 2 crore jobs, they’d promised to double the (farm) earnings, they might not do it. Congress ensures aren’t like that. We stand by no matter we promise, we’re within the land of Basavanna (twelfth century social reformer), we are going to ship no matter we’ve got stated.
Q. On your entire BJP management being deployed in Karnataka for campaigning.
A. They are in worry, they’ve misplaced their face. Under them Karnataka has develop into the corruption capital of the nation. PayCM, PayMinister, each publish or place in Karnataka is up on the market. Media has come out with a price card, like a lodge menu card, relating to the cash to be paid for appointments to numerous authorities posts like- ACP, Circle Inspector, Tahsildar amongst others. Everything is on the market, that’s the state of affairs.
Q. On the influence of “Modi factor and Modi magic” on this election.
A. Nothing will work, no central chief’s magic will work. Only you probably have stuffed the abdomen (of the folks), you probably have given good governance, folks will take into consideration you, nothing else will work. In Tamil Nadu or Kerala or West Bengal, the place did it (Modi issue) work ? It didn’t work, the identical factor will occur right here too.
