A.H. Vishwanath has taken over as the State president of Janata Dal (Secular) just ahead of the elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and when the Lok Sabha polls are not far away. A former Congressman, he also has the responsibility of coordinating with coalition partner Congress. The 69-year-old and five-term MLA told The Hindu that the need of the hour is strengthening secular forces in the State, which would entail regrouping of Janata Parivar leaders. Excerpts from an interview:
Your appointment as JD(S) State head is being seen as a strategic move to counter chairman of coalition coordination committee Siddaramaiah.
It’s a misconception. The party has not made me State president to counter Mr. Siddaramaiah. Siddaramaiah is Siddaramaiah and Vishwanath is Vishwanath. Congress is our coalition partner and Mr. Siddaramaiah is chairman of the coordination committee. Both of us will try our best to protect respective parties’ interests.
Will the change in JD(S) State leadership have any impact on its strategy as far as backward classes are concerned? Mr. Siddaramaiah is projected as champion of the OBCs.
Both Mr. Siddaramaiah and I know how to protect the interests of backward classes in our own ways. I still consider Devaraj Urs as the only champion of backward classes. But never did Urs flaunt this on his sleeve. It is not about the tag, it is about the programme one is able to offer.
What are your immediate challenges as the party head?
I have the duel responsibility of building and preparing the party for the coming polls, besides balancing coalition with the Congress. My immediate priority is setting up an enthusiastic team. We have dissolved all units. The existing district unit will continue to function till polls to ULBs. We have to prepare the party at grassroots for Lok Sabha polls. A new team with a blend of leaders with experience and enthusiasm will be in place by September first week.
You have the dual responsibility of fighting with principal Opposition BJP and coalition partner Congress, isn’t it?
Congress is our coalition partner. But I have to deal with the BJP. The first challenge is to dispel the misinformation campaign being carried out by BJP and pay them back in their own coin but in a healthy manner. Not like the way they heap accusations without any basis. I appeal to the BJP to behave democratically and level healthy criticism keeping the interests of people in mind.
Don’t you think the recent movement for separate Statehood for North Karnataka dented the party’s image?
BJP is spreading canards. To dispel this myth about step-motherly treatment to North Karnataka, we have planned to bring out a White Paper in the form of a booklet to highlight the budget allocations to various schemes and programmes to North Karnataka. I don’t have to respond to BJP. We are talking to the people directly with facts and figures. The booklet will be ready by next week.
You are known for not mincing words. Do you think it will work in JD(S), which is labelled as a ‘father and son’ party?
If people call JD(S) as ‘father and son’ party, let me say that many leaders, including Mr. Siddaramaiah and I, have come from ‘mother and son’ party. In the past, many like Mr. Siddaramaiah, M.P. Prakash, Krishnappa, Merajuddin Patel and others have headed the party. In the last 14 months, I understood that both Mr. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Deve Gowda are open to criticism. I will not hesitate to tell them about the ground realities, minds of leaders and workers.