Known for his swagger, former deputy chief minister R Ashoka had a tough time countering criticism within the BJP that he was neglecting senior leaders. As the man in charge of BBMP polls for the BJP, he is hoping for a victory here to get a bigger role such as leading the party in the next Assembly polls. A defeat now will provide an opportunity to his rivals to cut him to size.
In an interview with Rajashekara S of The New Indian Express, Ashoka, who was keen to hold elections when his own party men were reluctant, explains why the party will do better and eventually rule the BBMP. Excerpts:
Now that the elections are over, how do you analyse it?
I am confident of winning. For the last two-and-half years, the state government has neglected the city and didn’t undertake any development work. The government is not responding to people’s problems. Siddaramaiah wanted to be a CM, and after that he seems to have lost interest. Both the Congress and the CM have no vision for the city. As a result, the electorate has developed an aversion to the Congress.
But the BJP also didn’t do anything during its five years in the BBMP. The city has turned into a garbage dumpyard, corruption is rampant, and development works are lagging...
The garbage crisis is a Congress legacy; we made an effort to break the garbage mafia. Why did the government not suspend the civic body during the last two years if there were corruption charges?
IAS officer Rajkumar Kataria has given a report that there is large-scale corruption in the BBMP...
How can one officer look into lakhs of files and unearth corruption within two weeks? Is it humanly possible? There is no truth in this. The Congress wanted to postpone elections and for that they needed a reason. It is then that they came out with this report.
Everyone, including the CM, says that you were keen on holding the elections. Even your party leaders were not fully confident of facing an election. Why did you want it?
After neglecting the city for two years, the Congress was trying to defer the polls fearing defeat. I just fought to uphold the Constitutional provisions. I don’t know whether MPs, MLAs or corporators do good work or not. We are in a democracy and elections are the only means of electing members. I also convinced my leaders in this regard. They too appreciated my effort.
There are allegations that you are sidelining senior leaders including B S Yeddyurappa after being made BBMP election in-charge...
These are false charges. We have ensured ticket selection in a very transparent and democratic manner. I am only discharging the duties entrusted by the party by chairing meetings. All senior leaders are together and campaigned as a single unit. Naturally, when there are 1,800 aspirants for 198 seats, disappointment is bound to occur.
Will you become the face of the party in case the BJP retains the BBMP?
I am not doing the work with an eye on a party position. The party has always rewarded me. As a disciplined party worker, I do what the party expects from me. Whatever I am today is because of the party and I consider this an opportunity to serve the organisation. Whatever responsibility the party gives, I will do it with all sincerity and take it as a challenge.
What if the party loses?
If the party wins, it is a collective responsibility and victory. If we lose, I evenly take the blame. The party will also take responsibility. But that situation won’t arise as we will cross 110 seats. My personal gain or loss doesn’t matter. We wanted the party to win and the results will reflect our effort.
What if the govt dissolves the council after getting presidential assent to divide BBMP?
They cannot do it. The courts have clearly specified that any division has to be done when the term of the elected council ends.