H D Kumaraswamy: ‘JD(S)’ real strength is 70-80 seats… Have realised we don’t have to worry about all 224 seats’

On the ground, the common man has lost confidence in both the Congress and BJP. I think they have lost some trust.

All three major parties, including the JD(S), are holding yatras ahead of the polls. How has the public response been for your “Pancharatna Yatra”?

There is a difference between how they (the ruling BJP and Congress) have organised yatras and how I am doing it. They organise yatras in district or taluk headquarters, deliver their speeches and leave. In Pancharatna Yatra, we visit just one constituency per day. I cover 60-70 villages and travel 100 to 120 kms. This has helped me have an in-depth understanding of the village realities. According to me, JD(S) was the first to reach people before elections this year as far as (a party) organisation is concerned.

Congress and BJP have their yatras. But, their own leaders are concerned about the lack of response and are wondering how people are attending mine. They can’t get people to attend their rallies even after paying them. We are not paying anyone.
People are waiting for us till 1-2 am during the night. If people do not have faith in us, they would not have waited this long. I think people wait because they believe that Kumaraswamy will be of help and fulfill the promises he makes.

Have you conducted any surveys? Will you be able to reach the target of winning 120 seats (in the 224-member Assembly) in a bid to form the government on your own?

Yes, with the help of private agencies we have. Compared to other elections since 2008, there is a lot of difference this time round. People want to vote for us. When it comes to the chief ministerial candidates, I am leading the ratings compared to others.
In some belts, JD(S) has an edge over Congress and BJP. Earlier the two parties used to ridicule us, saying we will not cross 15-20 seats. Now, internally when they discuss, they say JD(S) will reach 45-50 seats.

Right now, Pancharatna Yatra has gone to 78 constituencies. Of these, 60 constituencies we can win. This is despite the fact that the Yatra has not travelled to Mandya and Mysuru districts, and some constituencies of Bengaluru where the party has great potential. There are 30-40 constituencies more where JD(S) is strong, where I am yet to campaign in.

What is your electoral strategy?

Our real strength is 70-80 seats. We have failed in some of our political strategies in the past by trying to win all 224 seats in the last three elections. We have analysed it and realised that we don’t have to worry about all 224 seats.

According to my calculations, JD(S) at present can win a minimum of 80-85 seats. My goal is 120-121 seats. Now, once the Congress and BJP candidates are announced, I will tell you how the prospects in 15-20 other seats will change. We have already announced candidates for 95 seats. There is no question of disgruntlement in our party now. There are 35 other constituencies (of which candidates are yet to be announced), in which there were some issues about candidates in five-six constituencies, which will be resolved soon. If all this is done, I am sure we can reach 120 seats.

What do you make of Congress’s confidence of winning the polls?

What is Congress’ strength? In 1994 Congress was reduced to 38 seats after five years of government. BJP had 40 then. In 1999, the division of Janata Dal became an advantage for Congress.

Due to our efforts and the documents we released about irregularities in the BJP government, Congress won in 2013 and BS Yediyurappa had to leave BJP. If not for that, Congress could have won only 70-80 seats. We had financial problems in that election. We won 40, BJP won 40.

Now, when Congress claims that they will win 120 or 140 seats, I am not disturbed by their fake, manipulated survey reports. Their tally is 70-80.

Are you focusing your campaign in constituencies where the party is strong, say districts of the old Mysuru region?

There is nothing like that. I have visited Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur and Vijayapur districts too. We will win maximum seats in Raichur. In Vijayapur too, the party had two MLAs, and we can win more. In Uttara Kannada district, we will win three seats.

This is in contrast to the claims of Congress and BJP that the JD(S) is confined to two or three districts. We are not facing such a situation.

The loan-waiver I did as CM, benefited the entire state. Farmers, wherever I go, say that they are in my debt and will vote for me if the party fields a good candidate in their constituency. This is the ground reality.

You have appointed C M Ibrahim as state party president. Will it help you win Muslim votes?

We don’t think making Ibrahim president will draw Muslim votes en masse to the party. But, there is a message within the Muslim community about the stand we took over Hijab row. They know Kumaraswamy criticises such issues and does not have double standards. Due to this, Muslim women too wait for our speeches in rallies. Apart from it, the stand of the party with respect to education and health has had a good effect on women of the community. Nobody has given them protection when it comes to these issues. The attempts of Congress to sow differences between the community and JD(S) will boomerang in this election.

Congress leaders come and meet me saying that Rahul Gandhi has asked them to request me not to go with the BJP and support Congress if need be. On one hand, they hold such discussions with me and on the other they go to Muslim leaders saying that JD(S) is like a donkey and Congress is like an Arabian horse and ask them to reject JD(S) as they would form a government on their own.

Do you think any party will be able to secure a majority in this election?

No one can win a majority at present. But, a clear picture will emerge a month from now.

JD(S) is perceived as a father-and-son party amidst allegations that it is pushing more members of the (Deve Gowda) family into state politics. What is your comment?

According to me, it is an irrelevant subject as such leaders are in all parties. In Karnataka BJP, how many leaders are family members? Four members of Jarkiholi family, (former CM) Jagadish Shettar MLA and his brother (Pradeep Shettar, an MLC), (industries minister Murgesh) Nirani and his brother (Hanumanth Nirani, an MLC), (MP Shivakumar) Udasi and his father (late CM Udasi). How many names do you need?

In (Karnataka Congress president DK) Shivakumar’s family, there is one MLC, two MLAs and one MP. Why is this not discussed? Why is only Deve Gowda’s family cornered? Why are all these ignored when dynasty politics of Deve Gowda family is discussed?
Moreover, we have not entered the political sphere through the back door. We go in front of the people, they vote for us and we join politics to help people. Have we entered politics to make money?

There has been a lot of noise over the JD(S) ticket for the Hassan seat. What has happened?

Nothing has happened. We will set it right. (Kumaraswamy’s sister-in-law Bhavani Revanna has staked claim over the seat, whereas he is said to be keen on fielding HP Swaroop, son of ex-JD(S) MLA HS Prakash)

Will MP Sumalatha Ambareesh’s move to support the BJP hurt your party’s prospects, especially in Mandya district?

I won’t talk lightly about her (Sumalatha). But, the perception that her support to BJP will do wonders is not accurate. In the last election, Congress, BJP and Raita Sangha backed her, ensuring her victory (in Mandya). Now, she has said she will support the BJP, but has not joined the party. If she joins BJP, she cannot transfer the support of Congress or Raita Sangha voters, who supported her in the last election, to BJP.

BJP is accused of pursuing a communal agenda in some parts of the state, such as coastal Karnataka, ahead of the polls. Will it help the party win seats in other parts of the state, as there were efforts to stir communal tensions in districts such as Yadgir and Kalaburagi too?

In Yadgir, Yediyurappa had to stop a programme mid-way and leave as there were not any people. There were 500 people, which reduced to 150 after a while. So Yediyurappa got down from the procession vehicle and left, is what I got to know.
More than that, this time around (the issue is) the confusion created by some parties over reservation. I don’t know which leader it will claim as a sacrifice and where.

They (some BJP leaders) pitted Panchamasalis against the government with their demand for reservation and encouraged them to hold protests. Now, Panchamasalis are left in the streets. They also did some drama on SC/ST reservation, which will boomerang against them.

This election, BJP and Congress do not have an issue. Now, Congress is going around giving out guarantee cards. I don’t know how much it will help.

You held talks with Bharat Rashtra Samithi, seeking their support. Will they field candidates for the Karnataka polls?

They won’t field any candidates for Karnataka Assembly elections. They will assist JD(S) in the Telugu belt. They will support us.

Former BJP minister Janardhan Reddy has also launched a party (Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha). Will it hurt other parties?

It is premature to discuss the party and who it will damage. Their expectation is 40-50 seats. But people will decide how much they will win. As Janardhan Reddy is originally from BJP, his party will affect some votes of that party. In some constituencies, Reddy’s party could hurt the Congress too. But, their party has no presence in the old Mysuru region. If they field candidates here, they will eat only into BJP and Congress votes. They cannot touch JD(S) votes.

What about parties like AAP and SDPI, which would also be in the fray?

AAP has no presence in Karnataka. In the coming years, we don’t know what could happen. But, for this election AAP will not have any influence. SDPI has strengthened its prospects in some constituencies. This will hurt the Congress more than us.

Will defections of JD(S) MLAs such as Shivalingegowda (Arkalgud), SR Srinivas (Gubbi) and Srinivas Gowda (Kolar) hurt JD(S) prospects?

We will win all the three constituencies you have mentioned. Defections will not affect us. It will only affect the party who made these MLAs defect.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had targeted JD(S) at a Mandya rally. Would it help JD(S) in securing its Vokkaliga vote base?

Hundred per cent. If you go to Mandya and take a dig at Deve Gowda, the Vokkaliga vote for JD(S) will only be strengthened. Especially in Mandya.

Is it a BJP strategy to make such statements to help the JD(S)?

You have to ask this question to BJP leaders as to why Amit Shah was targeting us.

Corruption is one of the major issues being raised by Congress to target the ruling BJP. Will it resonate with the people?

We can’t say it will have a major bearing on this election.