Karnataka Lok Sabha elections: BJP won’t cross single-digit mark, says DK Shivakumar
TNN | Mar 24, 2019, 12:49 IST
DK Shivakumar.BENGALURU: Congress trouble-shooter and master-strategist
DK Shivakumar strongly believes that the opposition BJP, which has been consistently winning 16-19 seats in the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka since 2004, will not cross the single digit mark this time. In an interaction at The Times of India office here on Friday, Shivakumar said the coming together of secular forces -- Congress and JD(S), coupled with unemployment, business and farmers distress, could limit BJP to less than 10 seats in Karnataka.
What’s your poll prediction for the country, in general, and Karnataka, in particular?
People supported Modi in 2014 because they hoped he’d deliver on all his promises. But on all these and several others, he has failed. There’s bound to be a swing away from Modi and BJP will be restricted to single digits. The Congress and JD(S), which had managed 12 seats in difficult times, will get 18-19 seats. I’ll refrain from naming constituencies we’re likely to win. At the national level, Mahagathbandhan led by Congress will form the government.
Which are the two decisive issues in Karnataka?
Unemployment, distressed business and farming community are important issues. The business community, which strongly backed the BJP in the hope of prospering, is now upset with Modi. Even street businessmen are angry. Retail shop owners and grocery shops which are doomed because of expansion of e-commerce or online business want the NDA to go.
Will national security following the Pulwama attack and airstrikes benefit the BJP?
I don’t think the Pulwama attack or airstrikes will have an impact on the poll outcome. These things will not change people’s perception of the BJP. Of course, people have great respect for our defence personnel and they’re smart enough to know that BJP is looking to play politics over the bodies of soldiers.
Will caste be a factor? Why will Congress-JD(S) win 18-19 seats in Karnataka?
Caste will play a minimal role. I don’t buy the argument that major community Lingayats will back BJP in these polls. The Lingayats are largehearted people and they proved it in the recent bypolls by supporting Congress after I tendered an open apology for our mistake of making a recommendation to the Centre for granting minority status.
Congress and JD(S) are struggling to put up a united face, mainly in Old Mysuru region largely due to trust deficit ...
The two parties have fought bitterly for almost four decades in Old Mysuru region.
There are serious apprehensions among both party workers and leaders. We’ve been convincing them to be united in the larger interest of the country and keep in view the secular ideology. About 90% have been convinced but we’re yet to convince the remaining 10%.
Why are Congress and JD(S) finding it hard to find candidates in certain constituencies? Do you endorse JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda’s decision to field grandsons, Nikhil and Prajwal?
We’re not struggling to find candidates. Even BJP has fielded three rebel Congress leaders as part of its strategy. The Congress has a long list of candidates and it’s taking time to find the right ones. Prajwal and Nikhil, Gowda and his sons are mature people and they play cards close to the chest. Their style of functioning is different. That’s why they’ve succeeded in politics and occupied the highest position of CM and PM even with the minimum number of MPs/MLAs.
Some of your party leaders feel Congress should have contested the elections in Karnataka independently...
This alliance was not restricted to Karnataka and it was done here keeping the national interest in mind. Under these circumstances, we need to sacrifice something in the state to gain something nationally. I’ve been maintaining good relations with the Gowda family for this. Our party workers have to accept it and fight the BJP.
You’ve been maintaining a low profile and not openly attacking BJP after you were raided by the income-tax department. Was there any pressure on you to join BJP?
The I-T department likes me a lot (laughs). The bureaucrats are doing their job. Since the issue is before the court, I don’t want to elaborate. I want to tell them that sitting in the seat of justice, injustice should not be done. As for pressure on me to join BJP, it’s a big story and I can’t reveal it now since I can’t put anyone in the witness box.
What’s your poll prediction for the country, in general, and Karnataka, in particular?
People supported Modi in 2014 because they hoped he’d deliver on all his promises. But on all these and several others, he has failed. There’s bound to be a swing away from Modi and BJP will be restricted to single digits. The Congress and JD(S), which had managed 12 seats in difficult times, will get 18-19 seats. I’ll refrain from naming constituencies we’re likely to win. At the national level, Mahagathbandhan led by Congress will form the government.
Which are the two decisive issues in Karnataka?
Unemployment, distressed business and farming community are important issues. The business community, which strongly backed the BJP in the hope of prospering, is now upset with Modi. Even street businessmen are angry. Retail shop owners and grocery shops which are doomed because of expansion of e-commerce or online business want the NDA to go.
Will national security following the Pulwama attack and airstrikes benefit the BJP?
I don’t think the Pulwama attack or airstrikes will have an impact on the poll outcome. These things will not change people’s perception of the BJP. Of course, people have great respect for our defence personnel and they’re smart enough to know that BJP is looking to play politics over the bodies of soldiers.
Will caste be a factor? Why will Congress-JD(S) win 18-19 seats in Karnataka?
Caste will play a minimal role. I don’t buy the argument that major community Lingayats will back BJP in these polls. The Lingayats are largehearted people and they proved it in the recent bypolls by supporting Congress after I tendered an open apology for our mistake of making a recommendation to the Centre for granting minority status.
Congress and JD(S) are struggling to put up a united face, mainly in Old Mysuru region largely due to trust deficit ...
The two parties have fought bitterly for almost four decades in Old Mysuru region.
There are serious apprehensions among both party workers and leaders. We’ve been convincing them to be united in the larger interest of the country and keep in view the secular ideology. About 90% have been convinced but we’re yet to convince the remaining 10%.
Why are Congress and JD(S) finding it hard to find candidates in certain constituencies? Do you endorse JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda’s decision to field grandsons, Nikhil and Prajwal?
We’re not struggling to find candidates. Even BJP has fielded three rebel Congress leaders as part of its strategy. The Congress has a long list of candidates and it’s taking time to find the right ones. Prajwal and Nikhil, Gowda and his sons are mature people and they play cards close to the chest. Their style of functioning is different. That’s why they’ve succeeded in politics and occupied the highest position of CM and PM even with the minimum number of MPs/MLAs.
Some of your party leaders feel Congress should have contested the elections in Karnataka independently...
This alliance was not restricted to Karnataka and it was done here keeping the national interest in mind. Under these circumstances, we need to sacrifice something in the state to gain something nationally. I’ve been maintaining good relations with the Gowda family for this. Our party workers have to accept it and fight the BJP.
You’ve been maintaining a low profile and not openly attacking BJP after you were raided by the income-tax department. Was there any pressure on you to join BJP?
The I-T department likes me a lot (laughs). The bureaucrats are doing their job. Since the issue is before the court, I don’t want to elaborate. I want to tell them that sitting in the seat of justice, injustice should not be done. As for pressure on me to join BJP, it’s a big story and I can’t reveal it now since I can’t put anyone in the witness box.
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