“He (Siddaramaiah) is the popular leader in the state. He is number one in terms of popularity and they (BJP) want to tarnish his image, and by doing that, they think can undermine the Congress,” Rao advised News18.
The Congress is all set to launch its third listing of candidates for the remaining 58 seats out of a complete of 224 meeting constituencies, which is able to go to polls on May 10. Excerpts from an interview:
Is the Congress assured or, because the BJP says, a bit too overconfident this time?
We have been working laborious and introduced our listing of candidates even earlier than the election was introduced in Karnataka. Our preparations have been good, and our marketing campaign as properly. The ensures that we’ve got introduced have been interesting to the folks. The BJP is in whole confusion. Until two days in the past, they’d not even introduced candidates. Now many are splitting up, leaving, and quitting. This exhibits the state of affairs is dangerous for them and the Congress is barely enhancing.
There is revolt within the BJP, and veterans are being requested to retire. Is that Advantage Congress?
It was Advantage Congress even earlier than this. Now it’s much more advantageous for the Congress.
By what number of seats do you suppose you may get an edge due to this infighting within the BJP?
I can’t repair a quantity or a proportion as a result of we even have to announce some extra names. Ultimately, issues are way more beneficial for the Congress in Karnataka and getting an absolute majority for us (Congress) right this moment is nearly sure.
Like, within the BJP, there may be additionally a revolt within the Congress. How would you deal with that?
In such a state of affairs, there’ll at all times be hiccups. Some aspirants will depart or increase a revolt. In the Congress, it’s at a minimal degree whereas within the BJP, we’re seeing it at a a lot increased degree. That is the distinction. Our occasion management is following up with them (rebels) and making an attempt to type out the problems.
The ‘bharose’ or guarantees you might have produced from the Congress… You characterize an city seat. What is clicking in city areas and rural areas?
All our guarantees are clicking with folks. Inflation is a consider city areas as properly. Somehow, within the metropolis, folks can discover a job and earn a dwelling. In rural areas, it’s even worse. There is unemployment in city areas as properly and it’s a large concern for us. That may have a big effect.
The Congress, at one level, was making an attempt to enchantment to Lingayat votes by speaking about how the BJP had handled veteran BS Yediyurappa. Today, BSY is the troubleshooter for the BJP. How do you see the BJP utilizing BSY to type out their points?
BSY is out of the electoral fray. He is making an attempt to safeguard his son’s future. They (BJP) know their chief and the current chief minister shouldn’t be even in command. Everything is being managed by Amit Shah or (JP) Nadda. The solely different one who appears a bit of concerned is Yediyurappa. You are taking a look at a state BJP president who shouldn’t be even seen, no one is taking his views. The CM is only a figurehead. This exhibits what sort of authorities we’ve got had within the final three to 4 years.
R Ashok, who’s contesting from two seats and likewise one in opposition to DK Shivakumar in Kanakapura, is saying he has a commander in Modi however Shivakumar has none. How would you react to that?
Our all-India president is Mallikarjun Kharge, he’s our commander. We have Rahul Gandhi. I don’t know what Ashok means by saying what he did.
Ashok additionally mentioned wherever Rahul Gandhi goes, the Congress loses.
We have gained so many states. Didn’t we win Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh? We gained Punjab final time, however this time we misplaced. In Karnataka as properly, it’s not that we misplaced. So, it’s a notion that they’ve created. We have gained many states and misplaced as properly.
The BJP says Siddaramaiah is contesting from two seats to be secure, and that no seat is secure for him in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah didn’t need to contest from Kolar afterwards. He determined to go to Varuna. Even now, the stress from Kolar is excessive for him to contest. Siddaramaiah has gained so many elections. He has been CM and deputy CM. Obviously, they need to goal him. He is the favored chief within the state. He is primary when it comes to reputation and so they need to tarnish his picture and by doing that they’ll undermine the Congress.
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