SURAT, February 4: Thakorbhai Naik, 62, is Congress candidate for Surat Parliamentary constuency. Pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party strong man Kashiram Rana, Naik is aware that battle is tough. But then "I am a fighter" says Naik, a civic engineer by profession and a social worker by temperament.His foray into active politics began in 1975 when he wore black badge to protest Emergency. In those dark days he was the only person in the city who opposed Emergency which also landed him in jail. After 18 years of service as lecturer at SVR Engineering college he resigned from the job to join the nav nirman movement of late Jayaprakash.He had been associated with Gujarat Pradesh Janata Party, Janata Dal and joined the Congress Party along with Chimanbhai Patel. In 1990 he was elected MLA from Gandevi in Valsad district and became cabinet minister. During communal riots and outbreak of plague when everyone wanted to flee the city, Naik camped in the city. For the last two years he is the city president ofCongress Party.Some excerpts from the interview.Q. You are pitted against Kashiram Rana who won the last general elections with the second highest margin in the state. Does it (strong base of BJP) frighten you?.A. We know that to defeat BJP in Surat is not easy specially with traders and builders backing it. But then BJP has certain disadvantages which we will try to exploit. For example, Rana has been MP for three consecutive terms but he has nothing to show. He has done nothing. We will expose the BJP. BJP formed the government in the state but failed to provide good governance. Despite their brute majority in Surat Municipal corporation it has not been able to provide administration.Q. With RJP deciding to go alone do you think it will affect your poll prospects?.A. In South Gujarat it will have no impact as RJP has no base here. It has no organisation. The Congress has goodwill and mass appeal.Q. Will Sonia factor help the Congress.?A. Things have drastically changed in favour ofCongress specially after Sonia Gandhi's visit to Bardoli. Nehru Dynasty has an appeal, a charisma.She has already changed the election scenario.Q. Do you think the belated apology tendered by the Congress Party for its failure to protect the Babri masjid has any positive impact on minority community.? A. I think apology makes no sense. It was meaningless.Q. You began your political career fighting against the Congress during Emergency. Now you are Congress Candidate for Surat Seat. How do you feel.?A. My father was a Congress man. When my father was jailed in 1942 I was a kid. I was not afraid when police arrested my father. Before learning alphabet I had learnt spinning. Today I feel proud to be a Congman because it is the only party with clear perspective.
