Congress legislative party chief and coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah continues to get the loudest cheers wherever he goes to address rallies for bypolls to three Parliamentary and two assembly seats. Managing a tight campaign schedule, Siddaramaiah has been doing the rounds of Ballari, Shivamogga, Mandya, Ramanagara and Jamkhandi, campaigning for Congress-JD(S) alliance’s common candidates.
Anusha Ravi of The New Indian Express caught up with the former chief minister in Shivamogga where he, along with Food and Civil Supplies Minister B Zameer Ahmed, has been campaigning for JD(S) candidate Madhu Bangarappa.
While grassroots-level cadres of either parties have been at loggerheads for decades, Siddaramaiah swears by his workers and their commitment to ensuring the alliance candidate’s victory. From his recent relationship with Minister D K Shivakumar to a bigger national role, here is what Siddaramaiah has to say. Excerpts:
Of all the elections you have contested and campaigned for, what makes these bypolls different?
It is definitely a different election because both JD(S) and Congress are fighting jointly against communal forces. It is naturally different as all like-minded people, who believe in secularism, have come together. Voters are also rejecting communalism and will vote for our candidate. We have jointly fielded Madhu and he will win the seat.
Do you endorse Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s view that these bypolls are semi-finals to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls?
I won’t say this is a semi-final. General elections are just five months away and the results of this election may be an indicator. He (Kumaraswamy) may have meant the same too, that it is a mood indicator.
How do you intend to shake off the BJP’s stronghold over Shivamogga?
Till 2004, Shivamogga was a stronghold of the Congress. It was only after S Bangarappa joined the BJP for a brief period and contested on a BJP ticket for Parliament election did the party win this seat.
Otherwise, till 2004, the BJP had never won the Shivamogga seat. Even today, it is a stronghold of the Congress. Since 2004, secular votes were being divided between the Congress and JD(S), but since we are contesting jointly, it won’t happen this time around.
Is it difficult to get your workers to campaign for JD(S)?
It is not difficult at all, at least in Shivamogga. All are working together because our main political enemy is the BJP which is a communal force. We have to defeat that party. Our workers are working sincerely and honestly for Madhu Bangarappa.
Will you give Shivamogga seat to JD(S) in 2019 general elections too?
We most likely will. We haven’t decided on seat sharing or which party will contest from where for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections yet. Madhu will win this bypoll, but this is only for a few months. We can’t say Shivamogga can’t be given to JD(S). It may go to JD(S)’ share of seats.
Is Jamkhandi a personal battle for you?
Why are you asking me this question? Nothing of that sort. All five constituencies are important. We will win in all five. We are confident.
How would you respond to V S Ugrappa being attacked with an ‘outsider’ tag in Ballari?
BJP’s candidate Shanta is not from Ballari, but from Andhra Pradesh. In the recently concluded assembly election, (BJP leader) B Sriramulu contested from Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district and Badami in Bagalkot. How can they claim that Ugrappa is an outsider? Ugrappa is a state leader. He is a tall leader among the ST community. I contested from Badami, but people of Badami never said I am an outsider. Likewise, people of Ballari won’t call Ugrappa an outsider.
Despite your assurance of joint campaigning, there are issues brewing in Mandya. How will the party counter it?
Yes, some problems do exist, but they will be sorted out. In Mandya, there are issues but in Shivamogga, there are no issues. All workers are working sincerely and honestly.
Would you take on a bigger national role in Congress? Contest Lok Sabha elections?
No, I won’t contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Is there a cold war between you and (Minister) D K Shivakumar post his comments on the Lingayat issue recently?
No. Absolutely not. Not at all.