Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and senior leader Dr G Parameshwara has told News18 that he is “definitely” in the running to become the chief minister if the Congress comes to power with an absolute majority in the Karnataka assembly elections.
In an exclusive conversation with News18, the senior Congressman said that he feels the natural progression to the CM’s seat would be him, after serving as second-in-command to the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2013.
Taking a jibe at BJP Karnataka unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel’s comment on the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Describing him as impotent, Parameshwara said the statement shows “how low the BJP can stoop to win elections”.
Stating that the Congress is adopting a new strategy to ensure a resounding victory in the upcoming election, Parameshwara also observed that the Karnataka Congress had become complacent in the 2018 assembly elections. He stressed the need to choose winnable candidates, but also those who would not switch to another party in the event of a hung assembly.
Read the detailed interview below:
Question: BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel has given a statement calling Rahul Gandhi impotent. How do you react to this?
A: It is unfortunate that in Indian politics, and especially in Karnataka, we have come down to such a low level of expression which is not relevant in the context of the development of the state or the issues of the people. We all have to keep one thing in mind that personal issues or attacks are irrelevant to the need of the people. I, personally, do not attach much importance to all this. He said that the state unit president of a national party talking about Rahul Gandhi’s personal issue shows how low they (BJP) can stoop to win elections. I don’t know who buys stories like this. People don’t want such things. Whether I say it or Nalin Kumar Kateel says it does not give us any respect in public life and I don’t think this type of debate should happen in politics.
Question: What is the reason behind making such statements?
A: They want to cover something. They want to divert people’s attention to something else. Number one, they (BJP) have been very corrupt. This is the most corrupt government we have seen in Karnataka or any state in recent times. Again in power for four years, has there been any development? Has he completed a project of importance? For example, Kalasa Banduri is an important project for North Karnataka. I wish Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had also taken up the project, even though he is from that area. Instead they are now trying to divert people’s mind on issues or trivialities by making personal attacks or saying something about Tipu Sultan etc. They are doing this to cover up their failures.
Question: We know that the Congress does not announce the name of the chief ministerial candidate before the elections. But there have been statements from your side that apart from 10 other candidates who aspire to be the CM, you are also running for the post?
Answer: Any party has to get majority. All of us whether it is DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah or me or other leaders, our basic aim should be to bring that number to 113. Then we can all fight.
Question: Do you want to become CM?
A: Of course, I do. I never said no. But it will have to be decided by the 113 MLAs first and then by the high command. You know very well how CM is made in our party. After majority, they will call CLP meeting and then someone from Delhi will come and they will discuss, and see majority of MLAs and then decide on that basis who can rule. Obviously I have spent 35 years in my political career in that race. When you have been a Deputy Chief Minister, naturally, the next step would be for anyone who has held that position, to become the Chief Minister. I repeat again, we should get majority and we all have to fight this election collectively.
Question: With the tussle for CM face between DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah and AAP, isn’t it confusing for voters too?
Answer: We all have been saying that it will be decided only after the majority. If you ask me if I am in the race, yes I am. It does not mean that I am already fighting for the post of Chief Minister. It comes only after getting the majority. The demands of the people are quite different; His perception is totally different. They want a party that will give them good governance. We are not preparing the manifesto; We must fulfill the promises made by us. What we did in 2013, we could not do much in 2018 because of the alliance which lasted only 14 months. But, now we are going to make a promise that if the public gives us majority, we will fulfill it. Congress will definitely look for someone who will deliver on those promises.
Q: What kind of impact do you see from Mallikarjun Kharge’s entire Karnataka tour for the elections?
A: Kharge is a big leader and now that he is the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), naturally people look at him in a different light. His presence or visit will generally affect, but especially, he will help because of being an underdog.
Q: You have said that the Congress needs to learn from past mistakes, especially after several of its leaders defected to the BJP. When you were taking a decision on the candidature, you had said that it would be carefully analysed. So, are you saying that mistakes will not be repeated?
A: Winning is the only criterion, but after winning we also have to see who will run away from us and who will not. It is important that they should not cross sides. This is also one of the factors that we are considering more seriously this time. After the results, if such a situation arises that getting a majority becomes a borderline issue, then we will have to see who will be with us.
Question: What is being done to stop Congress MLAs in the case of horse-trading?
A: We’ll see. We will look at various factors, whether it is an honest Congressman, a loyal one, who will not easily switch to the other side.
Question: Once the MLA wins the election, it is his decision to leave the party, isn’t it?
Answer: We have to give tickets to people who will not (cross).
Question: Will the Congress strategy change election by election, state by state?
Answer: With time, things have changed. It was different in Karnataka in 2018 and 2013. Both the times, I was the State Congress President. Both the elections were different. Our strategy was also completely different since we were in power. What good plans we had given, the development was also at its peak. Despite this we lost. Our strategy didn’t work because we got complacent and we gave fate plans. In 2018, we got very complacent that’s why we lost. This time, it will be different and we will not be complacent about anything. We are now in a battleground and we have to implement a strategy, capitalize on BJP’s failures and ask people not to waste their votes on JDS as it is not going to come to power on its own anytime soon. How will electing an MLA from JDS help in forming the government? They have not been able to form the government for so many years. Naturally, we are appealing to give us a chance to give good and stable government. Political stability is very important.
Q: What do you think about BS Yeddyurappa being given more charge and powers after BJP asked him to step down as Chief Minister?
Answer: It is an election strategy. We are not children, we can understand. He represents Veerashaivas, a very large and important community in Karnataka. Naturally, the BJP cannot shun him at this point of time as he is a strong leader of the community and they need him.
QUESTION: Are they using it just for the election, is that what you’re saying?
A: I think so. Just wait and see after the elections. There are so many people including Advaniji who have been thrown out, today they are nowhere.
Question: On what issues is this election of Karnataka being fought, which you said to be different?
Answer: I think it is about the people issue. Firstly, the young generation needs employment and their life should be organized. Nowadays there are a large number of literates and youth who want their lives to be organized, their needs to be taken care of and the participation of women to increase. You are seeing Anganwadi, Asha, health workers on strike everyday, why? Because you are not able to take care of them. Women should be given 50% reservation in local bodies. Lakhs of women are tearing down local bodies and this is a change and an extraordinary factor. The third factor is investment and industry development.
Question: We have seen that when it comes to representation in the assembly, the number of women legislators is only 9 or 10. Is Congress planning to give more tickets to women this time?
A: Yes. I am also on the screening committee. We are seeing women who can definitely win the election. Even if they don’t, those women who can contest, don’t contest and lose their deposit, but fight hard. Winning is a criteria, but if a woman can contest, maybe, next time she wins, we are looking at these factors and considering more women candidates this time.
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