Senior Congmen sidelined? I'll not dismiss this view, says HK Patil

The formation of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government seems to have enthused Congress central leaders as they feel they have succeeded in denying the BJP a chance to come to power. But are grassroot level workers and party leaders happy with this decision? The poor attendance of Congress members in the  state legislature session seems to be an eye-opener to this. To add to the discomfort of the ruling Congress, many leaders have openly expressed their displeasure over the neglect of North Karnataka and minorities in the budget. Mr H.K. Patil, a senior leader, who could not become KPCC president, was the first to raise his voice against the raw deal meted out to Congressmen. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, he explains his fight, where he stands vis-a-vis the party leadership and what he intends to do in future. Here are excerpts.

After the assembly elections, many developments had taken place and some MLAs who could not make it to the cabinet, came to you and asked you to take the lead. After you took charge, AICC general secretary, K.C. Venugopal came to your house and during the discussion, promised that the party would protect your interests. Your name was doing the rounds for KPCC president but even that post has gone to a south Karnataka leader. How do you think the party will protect your interests now?
After we held a meeting, the AICC secretary came to us. He did organise a meeting with AICC president Rahul Gandhi where we discussed issues related to the party. When the high command started searching for leaders to be nominated to the KPCC president and working president posts, they considered names of some of the leaders with us. I am happy that Eshwar Khandre has been nominated to the working president post. This shows they have started responding to our concerns. When the discussion was going on about the president post, my name was considered. Not even a single dissenting voice came from any quarter. Of course the party might have chosen some other leader based on a different yardstick. That’s ok.

Will you join the Kumaraswamy cabinet in the second round of expansion? 
It is a hypothetical question and I can’t reply to this.

Do you think Congress party has side lined its senior leaders?
I will not totally dismiss this point of view. In fact, we in the Congress party took potshots at the BJP, when L.K. Advani and other veterans were sidelined. Recently, during the selection of candidates (for  induction into the cabinet), it was clear that those eligible were not considered.

Coming back to the points you raised after the coalition’s first budget, what is your take on the neglect of north Karnataka and injustice to minorities?    During the elections, minorities solidly backed the party. At least in 40 constituencies, the minorities clearly helped the Congress win the elections. I am pained to see that the budget has not offered anything for them. In the changed political circumstances, programmes should have been announced for them. I can understand how  the minorities are feeling now. I have written a letter to AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, K.C. Venugopal, CLP leader, Siddaramaiah and the chief minister to convene a meeting of the Congress Co-ordination Committee to address these issues.

There is a school of thought which says the loan waiver scheme does not empower farmers. Isn’t it a misplaced scheme being offered by the government? 
I welcomed the government decision to announce farm loan waiver. This is one scheme which can give good relief to farmers. Have we ever bothered about the financial implications while giving a hike to bureaucrats? Why do we raise objections only when the farm loan waiver issue is raised? I for one  would back this scheme. A farmer is one who sweats and feeds us and there is nothing wrong in the scheme. 

But, many  say the co-operative sector will suffer if farm loans are waived...
There is some meaning in what you say. In the initial stage, we did not release funds to co-operative societies, so they suffered. But now, we have to make provisions in the budget.  If we release funds quickly, the system will run.

Coming back to politics, your father was called ‘Tiger of Hulakoti’ because of his rebellious nature. And you have a personality which is just the opposite. Both of you could not reach the top in politics. Does it mean you lost out because of the region you come from? Or was there a conspiracy? 
There is some truth in what you say. Many people wanted to see my father (K.H. Patil) in me. I can try but I am not sure if I can achieve it.  I can only say this: I do not want to disappoint my father’s fans.

In your fight, if you have to take on some forces, will you?
In the past, I fought several vested interests in the bureaucracy and in political class. I am not a WWF wrestler on the mat, I wrestle in the traditional Garadi Mane style. But I want to make one thing clear- I will never harm the party’s interests. Any action of mine will be in tune with its principles.

What will be the course your future struggle will take?
I have raised my voice against injustice done to north Karnataka in the budget. I can be a voice of people of north Karnataka and an advocate of the interests of those up north.

Can you be an alternative force?
I want to be the people’s voice.

Finally, what will the party do with Mr Patil? Is he on the list of leaders who will be pushed into political oblivion? Do the developments show that Mr Patil’s days are over?
I am a loyal party worker. In the confused political scene now, people with ulterior motives can get some posts. But for us, value-based politics is paramount and not opportunistic politics. No doubt, our path may be a difficult one. If the party wants, our goodwill built over the years will come to our help. I am not the one who loses optimism so early.