Bengaluru: H.D. Kumaraswamy, the two-time chief minister of Karnataka and Janata Dal (Secular) chief, has been advised by astrologers that his planetary place is nice — that’s, that he can look ahead to a 3rd stint within the Chief Minister’s Workplace. In an unique interview with ThePrint’s D.Okay. Singh and Sharan Poovanna, Kumaraswamy says the outcomes of the upcoming Karnataka meeting election will throw up a shock, and explains why. Edited excerpts:
SP: How do you see the elections shaping up for you up to now?
HDK: (In) the 2023 elections notably, a number of shock outcomes could come. There may be focus solely on the Congress and the BJP, who’re publicly claiming they may win 140 seats on their very own. However their surveys aren’t based mostly on floor actuality. I’m the one politician who has travelled to over 106 constituencies, visiting 60-70 villages in every constituency for the previous 5 months. The nationwide events haven’t taken the heart beat of the individuals significantly, which I’ve. They (BJP & Congress) haven’t given a superb administration however can win by throwing cash. That’s why I advised you there can be shock outcomes from Kannadigas. They’ll present shock outcomes to the nation.
DK: Your vote share has all the time been within the vary 18-20 per cent no matter the variety of seats you win. What makes you so optimistic?
HDK: I’m not analysing these points on optimistic traces. That vote share within the final three elections — 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018 — there are simply small variations within the vote share. We have now analysed all this and rectified our lapses. Regardless that we acquired 19 per a cent vote share, we misplaced 25-30 constituencies inside a margin of 400-5,000 votes. In these constituencies, had we labored correctly, we might have been in a position to get them. The uncooked elections (campaigns) we performed is what now we have modified now, modified our outreach to the individuals and factored in current political equations. One 12 months in the past, we chosen 95 candidates they usually have been working within the villages, staying there, and have been on the bottom.
DK: You didn’t change any of those candidates!
HDK: In some constituencies we modified candidates and there are new faces, however solely after scrutinising their background, after getting the arrogance that the chosen candidate will stay as much as our expectations. That has given us full energy in these constituencies. Beforehand, why have been we caught at an 18-19 per cent vote share? Wherever we gained, we gained with margins of 30,000-50,000. That was the scenario. The place we misplaced, we acquired simply 3,000-4,000 votes. And the state vote share common was 18 per cent. Our vote share will go up this time, 100 per cent.
DK: You’re seen as a Vokkaliga get together with a restricted social assist base…
HDK: Until final 12 months, we have been seen like that. After the Pancharathna and Janata Jaladhare campaigns, we expanded our energy from the southern to the northern elements and gained energy. This time, now we have good candidates who have been rejected by each nationwide events. We have now caught them. (In) greater than 28 constituencies, now we have given such individuals tickets and that can assist us this time. In line with our teamwork, we could get 30-35 extra seats from northern Karnataka.
SP: The BJP has been attempting to interrupt the Vokkaliga vote financial institution with a rise in reservation or giving new twists with Uri Gowda-Nanje Gowda…
HDK: That has failed and has boomeranged. What the BJP authorities filed earlier than the Supreme Court docket…it has boomeranged not simply from Vokkaligas, but in addition Lingayats. The Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda concern won’t work out. These sorts of small points, names they’re elevating, and giving an emotional story to these names — they succeeded in Rajasthan and UP. Not right here.
DK: You went with the BJP in 2006 and that gave a gap to the BJP and laid the inspiration for what it has grow to be as we speak. In hindsight, do you could have any regrets?
HDK: I’m not going to remorse that incident. As a result of I additionally gained and our get together additionally turned sturdy. Due to my management and becoming a member of fingers with these individuals, I acquired some goodwill at the moment. And due to that my get together has survived. I’ve not and don’t remorse it. However it’s an outdated concern, and I wish to overlook all these issues.
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DK: Hypothetically, if you’ll want to ally with both the Congress or the BJP, would you could have any reservations in opposition to both?
HDK: This hypothetical concern won’t come up. Persons are fed up with the current BJP authorities and never comfortable. The individuals are disgusted with how the Congress is working. The individuals need an alternative choice to each the nationwide events. They wish to select the JD(S) this time, give us an opportunity. That is their line of pondering. As a result of regardless that we didn’t get a transparent majority, in coalitions with each events, now we have carried out some good work. Persons are remembering that work.
DK: How are the prospects of the Congress and the BJP?
HDK: The 2006 BJP is totally different. The 2023 BJP is totally different. The 2006 BJP was very weak they usually had no earlier expertise of operating the administration… At the moment, they have been somewhat bit shy to do any unlawful actions. We managed it at the moment. However the BJP’s angle has modified now.
With the Congress, we had a foul expertise in these 14 months (2018-19). In order that’s why we don’t have this dream (coalition). Our dream is simply to get a transparent majority with the blessing of Kannadigas, by forming the federal government on our personal and dealing very onerous.
SP: Who poses an even bigger menace: the Congress or the BJP?
HDK: Right here, whether or not it’s the Congress or BJP, we aren’t bothered. We’re preventing in opposition to each the nationwide events. In Karnataka, the Congress and the BJP have strongholds. Each are our rivals, and we’re preventing each.
DK: You’ve gotten labored with each nationwide events. Which one is a greater alliance associate?
HDK: Each the events aren’t higher companions anymore.
SP: The PM is taking out round 30 rallies within the subsequent week in Karnataka. What do you suppose can be its impression?
HDK: There can be no particular change, or switch of energy to the (BJP) state unit… As a result of individuals are disgusted with the BJP’s administration. Even Narendra Modi’s angle in the direction of Kannadigas, Karnataka…For the previous a number of years, now we have been struggling…By conducting roadshows, he can’t affect or change the minds of the individuals.
DK: In your father’s biography, there’s a point out of how in 2018-19 (heading the Congress-JDS authorities) the PM requested you to interrupt the alliance and be part of fingers with the BJP.
HDK: He really suggested me to resign and take a contemporary vote. These points are throughout.
DK: We have now seen KCR and others coming and assembly you. There may be an try and sew up an anti-BJP alliance nationally.
HDK: Nationally, all these points will come up solely after the 2023 elections. In 2023, there are a number of states which are going for elections… Telangana, Andhra Pradesh. Solely after that can issues change. We will solely know for certain concerning the nationwide political state of affairs solely after the elections. A Third Entrance (or not).
DK: Are you keen to be a part of an anti-BJP alliance or a non-BJP, non-Congress one?
HDK: We’re not desirous about something about anti-BJP or anti-Congress. Our intention is to get a transparent majority with the assist of the Kannadigas. Different points could also be untimely now, and I’m not concerned with them.
DK: What in keeping with you can be the nationwide impression of the Karnataka elections?
HDK: After the 2023 Karnataka meeting election outcomes, there could also be a message to the nation. The way in which during which Karnataka selects a celebration, based mostly on that there could also be a change sooner or later political system.
SP: We have now seen the PM and senior BJP management of the BJP goal the JD(S) on dynasty politics.
HDK: What are they (BJP) doing? They gave tickets to 38 relations (of present MLAs or leaders). What morality have they got to criticise us?
SP: It’s also true that there was some discord inside your loved ones over the tickets for Hassan.
HDK: All these points have been created by some sections. Once they arose, I mentioned that there was no dispute and we’d clear up points easily. Ticket distribution occurred with none issues and with no injury to the get together.
DK: Up to now few weeks, the BJP has moved from Hindutva-driven politics to caste-centric politics in Karnataka.
HDK: Beforehand, they tried to pressure the Hindutva concern and failed. After the Hindutva concern failed, they’re attempting to lift reservation points with some castes and communities. In that too, they didn’t apply their minds correctly and failed. Now it’s boomeranging.
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DK: For those who come to energy, will you reverse these selections?
HDK: No matter topics individuals are sad with, we’ll take away these.
DK: As a result of Vokkaligas acquired a further 2 per cent quota…
HDK: Vokkaligas demanded 12 per cent. This extra 2 per cent, which neighborhood did they take it from? Our neighborhood (Vokkaligas) has not taken something from anybody else. We don’t wish to seize their (different communities) fruit (advantages) We’re not going to seize it. Our character is like that and these individuals are creating issues unnecessarily. They (BJP) simply wish to create variations between communities.
SP: How is the JD(S) reaching out to different communities just like the Lingayats?
HDK: We have now additionally given meeting tickets to greater than 50 Lingayats, 10 Kurubas…These communities will assist these candidates in these constituencies. The identical is the scenario in all events. We have now leaders from all communities, and we respect everybody.
SP: Do you suppose the BJP can be impacted by the departure of Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi?
HDK: Individuals know the newest developments however individuals are actually fed up with the developments of the BJP. Even the Yediyurappa concern…individuals won’t take it up significantly now. They eliminated him (as CM) and solely to get some votes on his identify, they’re utilizing him quickly. After the meeting election, what’s going to they do to respect Yediyurappa?
DK: A BJP chief advised us that astrologers have advised you that there are good days forward after 28 April.
HDK: That’s there. Everyone says all the pieces. They (astrologers) are predicting that Kumaraswamy will grow to be the chief minister. How I’ll grow to be (the CM) is one thing they don’t seem to be stating. I’ve confidence in my evaluation and the blessings of Kannadigas to assist kind the federal government.
DK: What are your astrologers’ predictions?
HDK: You’re saying that BJP leaders are saying this to you. Astrologically, our planetary positions are good now. However we can not rely solely on (the very fact) that our planetary positions are in a powerful place and sit quietly in our home and we’ll get a majority…if we really feel like this and sit in the home, then we’ll completely have to take a seat in the home itself.
SP: You spoke concerning the BJP, however what about your equations with Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah, D.Okay. Shivakumar…
HDK: There are a number of teams within the Congress. I don’t wish to elaborate on it and depart it to them. Our prospects and future can have no impact on any political events or leaders. Our energy is ours, and theirs is theirs.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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