Interview/ Basavaraj Bommai, former Karnataka chief minister
The Lok Sabha elections may see former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai moving to national politics, as he is contesting from the Haveri constituency, a BJP stronghold. Son of former Karnataka chief minister S.R. Bommai, the 64-year-old engineer-turned-politician started his political career in the Janata Dal, and he moved to the BJP in 2008.
Bommai has no doubt that the Modi factor is the most important force in the election, and it is the key to success in Karnataka, as the past 10 years have created a huge number of beneficiaries of Central government schemes. Excerpts from an interview:
Q/ How do you asses the political situation in Karnataka?
A/ We are very strong in northern Karnataka, central Karnataka and, of course, coastal Karnataka. With the tie up with the Janata Dal (Secular), we have become a formidable force in southern Karnataka. We are confident that we will retain what we had got last time, 25 of the 28 seats.
Q/ The Congress claims that the atmosphere is favourable to it.
A/ The Congress is living under that illusion because of the advertisements and the government machinery it is using. But, on the ground, people are saying that bringing the Congress back [in the state] was a mistake. Development has totally stopped. Their achievement is zero.
Q/ The Congress says that the government’s guarantees are positively impacting the people.
A/ These guarantees are not new for Karnataka. Former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa had given free power to all farmers, but we lost. Elections are fought on so many issues. Each election has a different factor. Now, it is the Modi factor here. On an average, five lakh beneficiaries of the Central government schemes are there in each Lok Sabha constituency. These beneficiaries have been there for the past 10 years. People judge carefully. Guarantees are a misnomer because what is promised is one thing and on ground it is something else.
Q/ Can you give an example?
A/ They said they were going to give 10kg rice; they have not given even one grain. They said electricity was free till 200 units, but nobody consumes less than 200 units. They have raised the electricity charges by four times and there is no power in the villages for farmers. Then where is the question of free power. The Gruha Lakshmi scheme (Rs2,000 financial assistance to the elderly women) is not coming every month and has only covered 25 per cent of the applicants. The government is making a big show, but people are feeling that they have been deprived.
Q/ So, these elections are a contest between the Congress guarantees and the Modi guarantees?
A/ Exactly. The difference between the Modi guarantee and other guarantees is that the Modi guarantee is a permanent guarantee. For example, the PM Awas Yojna. We have given houses; they are permanent. We have given toilets; they are permanent. We have given Ujjwala LPG gas; that is permanent. We are giving water at the doorstep, we are giving 5kg of rice; these are permanent. The Modi guarantee enhances the living condition of the poor.
Q/ The state government accused the Centre of not releasing funds. How do you look at this?
A/ Central ministers have replied to that. In fact, in the past 10 years, the NDA government had given almost three times more than what the UPA government gave. The Congress government is trying to bring in calculations that are not tenable or real. They are misguiding the people to cover up their failure in the financial sector.
Q/ What was the financial condition of the state during your time.
A/ The current financial state of Karnataka is precarious. The government is unable to mop up resources. Expenditure has come down, loans are increasing. We are in a debt trap.
Q/ Was it better during your regime?
A/ Certainly. I presented a surplus budget. Despite two years of Covid, we bounced back and presented a surplus budget. Now, it is a deficit budget for the second time.
Q/ It is said that the JD(S) may gain more from the alliance with the BJP?
A/ No, that is not the case. There is an overall political impact of these two parties coming together. The strengths of these parties will be made use of in different constituencies. It is a harmonious coalition. Geographically also it has suited us. We are strong in north, central and coastal Karnataka. They are strong in south. So it fits very well. It is a win-win situation.
Q/ The BJP is strongest in Karnataka among southern states. What is the reason for the state being a fertile ground for its ideology to prosper?
A/ Large sections of Karnataka, especially farmers and workers, are anti-Congress. Its has been so for the past six decades. Later, our leader Yediyurappa could harness the farmers and create a farmers movement, which got us a big vote bank.
Q/ The Congress talks about the north-south divide when it comes to election results.
A/ They are desperate. They have been washed out in the north. So, to keep whatever little they have left in the south they are trying to create this divide. Their political game is so low that it can divide the country.