Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Apr 7: Amidst the frenzy of campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, the first phase of which began on Monday April 7, former minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, Shobha Karandlaje spared a few minutes from her busy schedule for an exclusive interview to daijiworld.
A constituency that could be considered as a tough turf for the BJP was a topic of much debate over the issuance of the ticket, with names like Pratap Simha, Shobha Karandlaje and C T Ravi making the rounds. However, the BJP think tank on the suggestion of state RSS stalwarts gave the ticket to Shobha Karandlaje.
Karandlaje feels quite comfortable with the constituency that is particularly dominated by women voters. In the interview she expressed happiness with the decision taken by the leaders and hoped that it would boost her political career as she had begun her journey from Udupi in the year 1997.
She is confident of delivering the promises made in the manifesto released for the district. According to her, if BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi wins, anything could be possible, and said the party's manifesto was not an 'illusion' but a realistic promise that would be delivered.
Suprisingly though, contrary to BJP Mangalore candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel's stand on Yettinahole project, Shobha softened her stand contending that the people in DK district had been fed falsehood on the project. She said the Netravati river diversion is different from the proposed Yettinahole project, and hinted that it would not be detrimental to the district.
Excerpts from the interview
DW: Are you happy with the choice of constituency by your party stalwarts?
Shobha: I am cent percent happy with the informed decision taken by the leaders. Udupi belt is a stronghold of the BJP and the number of grassroot-level party workers are more in this region. Moreover, my political career began from Udupi in the year 1997. On the whole, I am happy contesting from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency.
DW: Pratap Simha, BJP contender from Mysore-Kodagu constituency in an interview to daijiworld said that he was happier contesting from Mysore than Udupi, since Congress contestant J P Hegde is a tough contender and enjoys more popularity in the region. What is your say on this?
Shobha: Absolutely yes. J P Hegde has his own potential and is a tough competitor in the constituency. I have no doubt about J P Hegde being a stiff opponent. But the question that arises at this point is, what are his achievements as a three-time MLA and as an MP to this constituency? People know his poor graph well and they are questioning his prospects as a candidate.
However, BJP during its tenure had brought inclusive growth in the region. All these years Hegde was mum on issues such as areca problem, Kumki land and many more. He never raised his voice in the parliament and in the assembly on this. It does not make a difference to the people if such a candidate enters the parliament or not.
DW: Do you feel your vote share could be spoilt by JD(S) candidate V Dhananjay Kumar, a former loyalist of B S Yeddyurappa?
Shobha: Dhananjay Kumar can only garner votes from Chikmagalur where JD(S) has traditional voters. Banking strongly on those votes he has chosen to identify himself with JD(S) party. This is democracy, one can choose any party and contest from anywhere. He might get a share of votes.
DW: So you feel he would not garner votes on his own personal identity?
Shobha: I don't think he will. He was in BJP for several years and now he is in JD(S).
DW: What are your key development agendas for the constituency?
Shobha: People of this region are facing problems related to Kumki land. If I come to power I will try to resolve this problem and unburden the sufferers. Areca ban has made the areca growers apprehensive, they feel deserted. I will also emphasize on this issue. Land encroachment is yetanother problem pertaining to the district which needs to be considered with seriousness.
DW: J P Hegde contends that in the affidavit submitted before the Apex court there was not a single mention of ban on areca. He said the report only took note of some harmful substances in arecanut but BJP was spreading canards and making a hue and cry over this issue. What do you say on this?
Shobha: No research so far has proved the presence of hazardous substances in areca. So how can they even make a mention of it is the question. In Sirsi, Indira Jaisingh remarked that areca is harmful and stressed on its ban. What does Congress have to say on this?
DW: In your manifesto you have promised to develop the port on the lines of Gujarat's Mundra model and hi-tech fisheries and infrastructure. Don't you think your promises are grand and unattainable?
Shobha: If Narendra Modi comes to power any dream is attainable. Modi gave a beautiful face-lift to Mundra port. Considering this, we made promises of upgrading our port along the lines of Mundra. Modi has materialized many dreams he had promised for his state. With this confidence, we are hopeful of giving the best to this constituency. We have not promised anything we cannot deliver.
DW: It could be observed from your recent statements that you are invoking Indira Gandhi's name to brighten your chances in the constituency that is dominated by women voters. Your comments.
Shobha: Absolutely not. Apart from Indira Gandhi, Manorama Madhwaraj and D K Taradevi have also contested in this battleground. Why should I take Indira Gandhi's name? It is Congress party which is fascinated by the name and not me. I have not shown any interest in her political resurrection from this constituency for sure.
DW: Are you confident of bagging women votes in the constituency?
Shobha: I am confident of winning their votes. I have been chosen to contest from this constituency as it has more number of women voters. I am confident that they will support me.
DW: District incharge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has said that Shobha Karandlaje is suddenly showing concern for women now, but when atrocities took place against women during BJP rule, Karandlaje was silent. Your response.
Shobha: It seems to me that Sorake was away from politics for sometime. He became active only after becoming minister. But I am not like that. I have been active irrespective of whether I was in power or not. I have raised voice in favour of women, eunuchs and endosulfan victims. I was not in power then, still whenever there was any issue regarding women, we not only spoke out against their (Congress) people who had indulged in such crimes, but even kept our own party members who only faced such allegations, without anything being proved, out of the cabinet. Those who faced such allegations were removed from our party. All cases of harassment against women (involving BJP members) are in court and none of them have been proved yet.
DW: What are your strengths?
Shobha: My struggle all these years in the political arena and the party workers are my strength. The party workers are more enthusiastic than me to make Modi victorious. Workers are keen to see Modi as the next Prime Minister. It has become a matter of prestige.
DW: Why are you trying to woo Halady Srinivas Shetty only now that elections are near, when you ignored him all these days?
Shobha: That is not true. Even when he resigned from the party, Yeddyurappa and I were in touch with Halady Srinivas Shetty. We were in constant contact as we share a friendship. So now that I am going for elections, it was natural I would meet him to seek his blessings. There was no political motive behind the visit.
DW: Halady's supporters have expressed support to BJP. How much is that going to help you?
Shobha: It is definitely a positive development. I am happy that those who worked with Halady have shown solidarity with me. As they were pillars of his victory earlier, their support now will be an added strength ahead of LS elections.
DW: Why are you silent on Yettinahole project though earlier you had protested against other key projects in DK?
Shobha: A wrong message has been conveyed to the public in DK. There is a huge difference between Yettinahole project and Netravati river diversion project. The Yettinahole project is not detrimental to the district and will not make DK a parched district. There is no connection between these two projects at all. It is not possible to divert a river on the Western Ghats. Yettinahole project will have no effect on the Netravati. Around 2000 tmc of water that flows into the sea during the rainy season would be used. There is no connection to Yettinahole project and the rainfall in DK and Udupi.
DW: Are you making a political statement by supporting Yettinahole?
Shobha: There is nothing political about it. I have experience in handling drinking water projects as a rural development minister. I am speaking from experience. It would be impossible to implement the Yettinahole project if it has any connection with Netravati river diversion.
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