With the presence of Janata Dal (Secular) leader P.G.R. Sindhia in the poll fray, election in Basavakalyan in Bidar district has turned into a high voltage triangular fight among the Congress, the BJP and the Janata Dal(S). Mr. Sindhia spoke to The Hindu during his campaign in the constituency on Friday.
Q: How is Janata Dal (Secular) support base in Basavakalyan?
A: Basavakalyan is one of the constituencies in the State that have traditionally been a Janata Dal(S) stronghold. We have won many elections here in the last three decades. The minority community is inclined towards the Janata Dal(S) as it is not happy with Congress. I am confident that I will win this election.
Q: Are you being projected as an outsider here?
A: Yes, our political opponents are playing that card as they don’t have anything negative about me. In their bid to polarise votes along caste lines, they are also projecting me as a Maratha. But, people know who I am. Thanks to my long-standing connection with the district and the constituency, people across communities are receiving me as their own wherever I go. Swamijis of many Lingayat Mutts have a strong desire that I should represent the constituency in the Assembly. I am enjoying overwhelming support. The desperate attempts to show me in bad light will not work.
Q: What is your poll issue in the constituency?
A: I have come here with development agenda. Basavakalyan has remained backward. People are not happy with the performance of their representatives. Considering my work and contribution to the district in the past, they naturally expect that I can do better for the development of the constituency. The sitting Janata Dal(S) MLA of Basavakalyan [Mallikarjun Khuba] joining a party [BJP] that is diagonally opposite to the ideology of the Janata Dal(S) has not gone well with the people. So, his departure from the party would in no way harm the Janata Dal(S) prospects.
Q: What is your take on pre-poll surveys that have predicted a hung Assembly?
A: I have been a strong advocate of freedom of press. I was jailed during the Emergency for my fight for freedom of expression. I respect the pre-poll predictions, but don’t accept them. We have a long history of election results showing pictures entirely different from pre-poll surveys. The Janata Dal(S) is gaining strength with each day passing. Many leaders from other parties are joining the Janata Dal(S). Workers in the Congress are increasingly deserting their party to join the Janata Dal(S). In my own constituency, many leaders from other parties have joined hands with me. There are also a few leaders who are technically in their parties, but working for me at the grassroots level. H.D. Kumarswamy’s promise for farm loan waiver has impressed farmers across the State. People want to see Mr. Kumarswamy as the next Chief Minister. I am confident that the Janata Dal(S) will emerge victorious to form the next government on its own.
