
BENGALURU: The by-election for three Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies in the state has attained national significance as the political parties in the state have billed it as the semi-final ahead of the big battle for Lok Sabha in 2019. The battle in Ramanagara Assembly constituency has evoked curiosity and excitement with JD(S) fielding Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s wife Anitha Kumaraswamy and the rival BJP trying to exploit the divisions in the Congress-JD(S) alliance. Dismissing reports of trouble between alliance partners, Anitha, in an interaction with The New Indian Express, asserted that she is the affectionate ‘Akka’ for people of Ramanagara.
What is your take on the criticism that you have been fielded by JD(S) in Ramanagara only because you are the wife of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy?
This is far from the truth. I have cultivated my own identity through my involvement with the public since the 1990s. I am not a political novice. I have been in public life playing a supportive role to my husband. I have been actively campaigning and helping in development works of Ramanagara as it was represented by my father in-law H D Deve Gowda and husband, over the years. I am treated as the affectionate ‘akka’ (elder sister) by the people of Ramanagara.
But, there were other aspirants too for the Ramanagara ticket.
No, the choice was announced the day Kumaraswamy decided to resign from Ramanagara seat after winning in two seats including Channapatna. People of Ramanagara accepted his decision only after he accepted their demand to field me as the JD(S) candidate in the by-poll as they wanted this constituency to remain with Deve Gowda’s family. I have been chosen by the people of Ramanagara, not Kumaraswamy.
Your rivals portray you as inaccessible to voters as you stay in Bengaluru. Your comment.
It is a baseless charge. I will visit the constituency at least two days a week. I can reach out to the people any day within an hour as Bengaluru is so close to Ramanagara.
Opposition from local Congress leaders against alliance with JD(S) is threatening to upset your calculations.
The issue has been resolved with the intervention of Water Resources minister D K Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh. Local Congress leaders including Iqqal Hussein has been convinced to work unitedly with JD(S) to defeat BJP this time. Shivakumar has taken the lead to ensure active involvement of local Congress cadres to ensure my victory.
What are your priorities if you get elected?
Shifting of Rajiv Gandhi University to Health Sciences to Ramanagara tops my list. Providing housing for the poor needs immediate attention. I want to provide houses for at least 5,000 families. Providing drinking water and sanitation is also in the list.
Nikhil to hit the campaign trail
Actor Nikhil will campaign for his mother, Anitha Kumaraswamy, for three days in Ramanagara. “Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy are expected to devote one day to campaign for me in Ramanagara. Congress leaders D K Shivakumar and D K Suresh are also set to hit campaign trail jointly with JD(S) leaders,” she added.