BY Raghavendra and Geeta Shivarajkumar spoke to Democrats about their plans for the district and their confidence in victory if elected.
Written by Raghavendra
How is this election different from the last three Lok Sabha polls you have faced so far?
The atmosphere this time was even more conducive to my victory, and our campaign started quite early. Public confidence in Modiji and his poll alliance with JD(S) will help the BJP in this head-to-head contest. Our faith in our workers is such that like DK Shivakumar in rural Bangalore and Siddaramaiah in Mysore, here my brother (BY Vijayendra) and father (BS Yediyurappa) have worked for me. So much so that I don’t do much exercise.
What are your accomplishments as a three-term MP?
I have provided Rs 20,000 crore for road and railway infrastructure development and lift irrigation projects. The Shivamogga airport is functional and in the past year he has seen 40,000 passengers, attracting investors, tourists and students. I have also worked as a member of parliament, a member of a panchayat that caters to local needs. I have ensured that many of Prime Minister Modi’s ideas, such as “speak up for local communities,” are realized.
Will Eshwarappa’s chances of victory fade in the contest?
He is a senior leader who has blessed me in every election. Recently, he even announced in a meeting that Mr. Raghavendra would win by a margin of 500,000 votes. Voters know his selfish motives. Even if he takes away about 15,000-16,000 votes, we will make it up somewhere.
The Yediyurappa and Bangarappa families will play against each other for the fifth time in a row. What do I have to say?
This is not a fight between two families, but a fight between two ideologies.
How is the campaign going and how are people responding?
Campaigning has been very active and I have been reaching out to people across the constituency. People, especially women, love me as if I were their own sister or daughter.
How is the current situation different from the 2014 election you faced?
At that time, I was a candidate of the regional party JD(S). Now I am running as a candidate for Congress. The situation improved with the transition to a national party. The public reaction this time was quite large.
What are the main issues that need attention in your constituency?
In this region of Malnad, villages on the forest periphery lack basic amenities such as road connectivity. As a result, children are no longer able to attend school, causing a major hindrance to their education. If elected, addressing this issue will be my top priority. It will also focus on installing mobile phone towers in these villages to improve communication. We will also work to resolve the issues of people displaced by the Sharavati project and arecanut growers.
Why should people vote for Congress?
The Congress has successfully implemented the five guarantees announced ahead of the Assembly polls. We moved on. The guarantees now announced at the national level will bring great benefits to the people. It is only the Congress that can unite people of all castes and creeds and make Karnataka a ‘Sarvajanangada Shanthiya Tota’. Therefore, people should vote for Congress.
(issued May 2, 2024, 00:07 IST)
