JAMKHANDI: For Anand Nyamagouda (35), son of Jamkhandi MLA Siddu Nyamagouda who died recently, politics was a distant reality. He had even told his father on several occasions about his decision not to enter politics. But he decided to take the plunge after his father’s death in the face of pressure from his supporters and to continue his legacy. He spoke to TNIE during his election campaign in Jamkhandi. Excerpts:
How are you preparing to face the elections?
My father’s death was unexpected. I never expected that I would enter politics. However, people want me to join politics and continue the work that my father had taken up. Also, I decided to enter politics to continue my
father’s legacy.
What are the major issues for you in this bypoll?
There is no one particular major issue that the election will be fought for. My dad launched several irrigation projects in Jamkhandi, some of which have to be completed. People want me to take up the development works which the constituency needs in my father’s absence.
Your father won by a narrow margin against BJP in the last election. What’s your reading of the bypoll?
The BJP rebel (Sangamesh Nirani) took about 25,000 votes while Congress rebel (Dalwai) bagged 19,000 votes in the last assembly polls. Most votes that Dalwai and Nirani got were Congress votes. It is a misconception that all the votes which the BJP rebel got were actually BJP votes. The Congress will win the bypoll where the clash is direct between us and BJP.
Why should people vote for Congress?
All the 365 assurances which the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government made prior to the 2013 election have been fulfilled. People have begun to regret why they did not vote for Congress. Over the last few days, many hardcore BJP workers in Jamkhandi constituency defected to Congress. BJP workers themselves are against their candidate (Srikant Kulkarni). He has not taken his
party workers into confidence.
Will the Narendra Modi wave and caste factor work in BJP’s favour?
Modi wave will not work. Despite his massive rally in Jamkhandi ahead of the 2013 election, my dad won. Lingayats in Jamkhandi are not divided into sub-sects. People will cast their vote irrespective of religion.
What will be your priorities if you win?
The Mariguddi-Galgali lift irrigation project, which will help nine villages, will be my immediate priority. I also want to fulfil my father’s dream to have a 250-bed hospital. Even before going to the polls, I asked CM H D Kumaraswamy for `40 crore for development of roads, which
he released.