Q: How are your poll preparations and what is your take on your victory?
A: Besides my friend and KPCC president, Mallikar jun Kharge, no leader has even won elections eight times in a row from the same constituency. Because of the delimitation, he had to change the constituency this time. I am contesting from Jewargi from where I have been winning since 1972. I will win this time too, no doubt.
Q: But, the BJP has been making allegations that you have not done anything for the constituency and you won the elections in the past by distributing money. Your comments.
A: (Visibly disturbed) They are desperate and therefore, they make such baseless allegations and you publish them ... It is the BJP which brought mine-owners to distribute money. I won elections because people loved me and this time too, it is the same factor that will work in my favour. In a way, this election will be the easiest. It will be a cakewalk.
Q: If you have achieved so much, can you tell me some of the major programmes.
A: Mudabala, Indi and Jewargi branch canals were sanctioned during my tenure. Development of Bidar-Srirangapatna state highway is a major achievement. Every grampanchayat got a high school, one IT college, five junior colleges and one degree college were sanctioned after I became the chief minister. Who got circuit benches to Gulbarga and Hubli? If this is not development, what else is development? Apart from this, I am there for a marriage or paying the fee of a child in my constituency.
Isliye woh log mohabbat kartien hain (That is why they love me).
Q: What is your poll prediction?
A: The Congress will get a comfortable majority. The BJP will not cross more than 80 and the Janata Dal(S) might get around 35.
Q: It looks like that BJP has an edge because of the Lingayat factor. Don’t you consider this?
A: The BJP will not do well in these 69 constituencies. The Lingayat factor has not worked here. Mr Yeddyurappa is not mature.
He is not chief minister material. You see how they ran the government for 20 months. Almost every day, the partners (JD-S and BJP) fought. You would remember that when I was the chief minister, things were different. We never fought in public.