‘More hurdles for BJP as INDIA gets stronger’

NEW DELHI: In the heat of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to Hindustan’s Shashi

Shekhar and Suhail Hamid on a range of issues, including electoral bonds, Muslim and OBC reservations, turncoats, Sam Pitroda’s inheritance tax statement, and the poll landscape after two phases of voting. Edited excerpts:

Voting has been held in more than one-third of the Lok Sabha seats. What opportunities do you see as the Congress president?

Our chances look greater. Along with campaigning in all states, I’m also seeking feedback. This is an excellent opportunity for the Congress and the INDIA coalition. Together, we shall be able to prevent the BJP from coming to power.

Your approach is to fight elections by putting regional leaders forward. Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar, and MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu. However, the party is unable to develop its own leadership in these states. How effective will this strategy be, and how beneficial is it to the party?

Look, which leaders does Modi ji have? Those who left us became leaders. They become CM, deputy CM, and ministers. As a result, borrowed persons become leaders, and the BJP workers lose faith in them. Aside from it, people who wielded influence were removed. The Centre removed some and sent them to the state, while others were removed from the state and brought to the Centre. I would only say that our plan is effective, and the coalition is on the verge of victory.

We have seen the rooting out of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as a result of coalition politics. Is there a strategy to strengthen there?

This cannot happen right now. We are currently part of an alliance. How can the alliance function if we don’t give each other space? As a result, the party made sacrifices as well. As the INDIA coalition develops stronger, the BJP will face increased hurdles. We’re not doing this to undermine the Congress party. This time, we are also contesting elections with fewer seats. But it will not make a difference.

Since the release of the manifesto, the Congress has been attacked in a variety of ways. The BJP president issued a statement claiming that you seek to take away people’s reservations. What are you going to do about this?

When a man is disappointed, he speaks a lot. The Constitution provides for the allocation of MP/MLA seats to SC/ST based on population. The Constitution was amended to provide reservations for OBCS. The first state to do this was Karnataka. I was a member of the cabinet that approved OBC reservations. Now you’re criticising the one who brought justice, saying we want to take the reservation.

They claim you want to snatch the reservation and give it to Muslims.

Who is giving and who is snatching? In 1994, after carrying out a social, economic, and educational survey in Karnataka, Muslims were granted 4% reservation. Following this, the BJP government took office in 1996. You stayed there from 1998 until

2004. You had an opportunity to abolish it. You have been in power at the Centre for 10 years, and there has been a BJP government in Karnataka for many years. Why didn’t you abolish it? All of this is meant to confuse people and induce terror in their mind. In reality, they are afraid after reading our manifesto, which includes five justices and 25 guarantees.

But Prime Minister Modi is himself giving guarantees.

We began the guarantee in Himachal and Karnataka. Later, he started “Modi ki guarantee”. It failed long ago. The promises to create two crore jobs and double farmers’ and workers’ incomes also failed. The Prime Minister should reveal which of his promises he has kept in 10 years.

Prior to the polls, your leaders end up making statements that cause the party difficulties. Recently, Sam Pitroda made such a statement. Is the party considering making any guidelines?

Look, his (Pitroda’s) personal opinions persist. He could have been talking about something else, but everyone associates it with the party. But there is no such thing (as inheritance tax) in our manifesto, so why bring it up again and again? We’ve distanced ourselves from his statement.

You allege misuse of agencies. But the PM claims that his actions have united all corrupt individuals.

If he wishes to remove corruption, we will welcome it. But why are you bringing corrupt leaders from the Opposition into your party? You’re scaring them into joining your party. Then they are getting a bonus. In such a setting, who is encouraging corruption? We are simply being defamed, but he is taking full advantage.

The Election Commission has enacted a new rule stating that if any leader of any party says something, the president of party will be served with notice. What is your view?

This cannot happen. The one who says it is responsible. If your son commits a crime, can you be held accountable? Their method of operation is to intimidate and deceive. This will not endure.

What plans do you have to strengthen the party in weak states like UP and Bihar?

Right now, our focus is on elections rather than the organisation. That is why we have made friends with SP in UP and are contending for 17 seats. We want to defeat the BJP wherever it is strong. We have no disagreements with the PM, but his ideology does not serve the country’s interests.

Prior to the elections, the Income Tax Department seized the Congress’s account. The party also made allegations of not getting equal opportunities. How is the situation now?

Whatever is seized is seized. There are no restrictions on subsequent collection. They did their utmost to harass. We had challenges because we lacked resources. Even those who provide resources are terrified. That is why we are canvassing door to door. Whatever we do is based on our guts.

Electoral bonds are a major concern, but the Opposition has failed to bring it to the public’s attention. Will the INDIA-LED alliance investigate it if it gains power?

If electoral bonds were a level playing field, everyone would have received them. What happened was to scare a few contractors and attempt to halt their tenders. What occurred is that the person who would’ve paid us ₹100 instead handed us only ₹5. At the same time, the person who would have given ₹10 to the BJP donated ₹10,000. Because they have investigating agencies. They also awarded contracts to those from whom they received more money. ‘Chanda do, dhanda lo’ (donate and get business).

Will the INDIA grouping issue a joint manifesto?

We have resolved that following the elections, the alliance leaders would sit to make a common minimum programme.

Are we speaking to the country’s first possible Dalit prime minister?

Look, I’ve never considered myself a Dalit. I consider myself a Congressman. If a senior Congress leader receives something, it is a different story. My goal is to overthrow the BJP and destroy its philosophy. This is more beneficial to me.