For Karnataka, PM's vision & BSY's leadership are a perfect match

Union Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals H.N. Ananth Kumar,  who is also the Bengaluru South MP, rarely appears before the media in his hometown. There are some who feel he does not respect the media but his defence seems valid: “since I am privy to critical information and developments in the party and the government, my coming before the media will not only upset the government’s plan, rather, it will destroy the confidence reposed by our leaders in me.”  

During a rare interaction with DC, Mr Kumar vehemently argued that CM Siddaramaiah does not procure foodgrains from the market and give them free to people under the Anna Bhagya scheme. “While the United Nations recognised the PDS system of Chattisgarh, it has not given credence to the Anna Bhagya scheme. Why? Because the Karnataka scheme is full of  loopholes and corruption.” One can agree or disagree with him  but none can discount the influence he wields in the party. Here are excerpts from an interview.

As state BJP President, you took the party to 79 seats in 2004 assembly polls. What is the difference between 2004 and 2018?
In 2004, we got 79 seats and then in 2006, we joined a coalition government and finally in 2008, we formed the government on our own. This time we will make a quantum jump. We have set ourselves a target of 150 seats. Nobody predicted a win in Tripura, none had  an inkling about the UP results. Such a change will happen in Karnataka too.

Three factors will work here: people’s mood on changing the government, the reliable leadership of  Narendra Modi and our president Amit Shah’s strategy. People no longer want the status quo and dynastic rule, they  have become aspirational. In the Seventies, people were content with Roti, Kapda aur Makaan. But now, they want smart phones and nothing else. 

Will Mr Modi prove to be a decisive factor? He speaks in Hindi, how can he make an impact here?
Originally we had planned 15 rallies but finally, he is addressing 21. For Karnataka’s development, Mr Modi’s vision and Mr Yeddyurappa’s leadership are a perfect match. Yes, I agree Rahul Gandhi speaks flawless Kannada (smiles). In the past, people of Karnataka have seen Pandit Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and Atalji. They had no issues with them or their Hindi. 

When you have no pan-Karnataka presence with regions like old Mysuru still a problem, how can you dream of 150 seats?
Elections are not about arithmetic, they are chemistry at work. If I am right, in 1989, we contested assembly elections in Haryana and the Congress had 85 seats and we, five in the outgoing assembly. Atalji was asked by reporters how could the party be a formidable force when we had just five MLAs? He replied that it’s not the political party but people who will create an alternative. Finally, we got 85 seats and the Congress, five!

But, isn’t it a fact that you have no Vokkaliga backing...
You can cross check for yourself how many of our 102 BBMP members and how many of our MLAs in the outgoing assembly are from this community. They are with us.

In Karnataka, in which regions do you enjoy a good presence?
We have a pan-Karnataka presence from Bidar to Chamarajanagar, from Bantwal to Ballari. You should remember that we got 110 seats (in 2008). Now, people are angry with the Congress government so a hung assembly will not happen. The Congress, I think, may not cross 48 seats.

But you gave tickets to tainted leaders in some constituencies..
When we announced the list, the criticism we faced was that we had brought back the old faces. We gave tickets to 106 of them. You cannot always find an ideal situation or an ideal candidate. 

Whenever a major controversy breaks out in the  BJP, Ananth Kumar’s name is linked to it. In the Varuna ticket fiasco too involving Yeddyurappa’s son B.Y. Vijayendra, your name cropped up..
I do not want to add anything to what our national president and state president have said. The national president has owned responsibility for this and our state president said he voluntarily took a decision to ask his son not to contest.

How many seats do you think the party will win in the city?
In Bengaluru city, we will win not less than 22. There is an evil axis of Haris-Baig-Byrathi Basavaraj and Munirathna operating here. People in the city will give the gate pass to the Congress party.