SHIVAMOGGA: Starting Sunday morning, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has been aggressively campaigning to defeat the BJP in its bastion - Shivamogga. JD(S) and its alliance partner Congress have pitted their candidate Madhu Bangarappa against B S Yeddyurappa’s son B Y Raghavendra. He, however, did not deny that there are differences between leaders at the grassroots level and added that it will take some time to iron out the differences.
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Do you think the bypoll results will have an impact on your government?
The bypoll results will indicate the strength of the coalition and the victory of consensus candidates will definitely set a direction for the 2019 general elections. Our victory will stop the BJP from making efforts to destabilise the government.
What is your plan for Shivamogga Parliamentary constituency where you have been campaigning for three days?
I am attending public meetings in all the eight Assembly segments in the Parliamentary constituency as decided earlier. Elections in Mandya do not require my presence, but I campaigned for two days and I will also go to Ballari on Wednesday.
Will JD(S) field its candidate from Shivamogga?
Yes. Congress leaders suggested us to field our candidate from Shivamogga in the bypoll and they have also decided to support our candidate in 2019.
Has the bonhomie between senior leaders failed to unite workers?
Senior leaders from both the parties are working together for consensus candidates. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and other senior leaders are campaigning jointly. However, there are some issues at the local level. As both JD(S) and Congress fought in the elections only recently, it would take some time to iron out differences between workers at the grassroots level.
The BJP has accused your government of not carrying out any government work after the bypolls were announced.
That is not true. Even before starting campaigning, we had three meetings with officials. All government works are still being carried out at the officers’ level. With the budgetary allocations in place, there are no hiccups for smooth functioning of the government. Sometimes, if a minister goes abroad,does his department stop functioning? No. The authorities run the show.
Your government recently announced loans for street vendors at a public rally in Shikaripur. Is announcement of several sops at public rallies a violation of the poll code of conduct?
All those sops and programmes announced at public rallies were already announced during the budget five months ago. I have spoken about these on several platforms too. I never announced any new programme at any rally. The announcements were made at these public forums only as an answer to the BJP leaders who have been accusing us of failing to implement any pro-people programme. There is no question of violation of the code of conduct.
Why do you have frequent emotional breakdowns?
I am an emotional and a sensitive person. I cannot bear any kind of propaganda against me.