‘If you spot the Modi eect, let me know’
Congress candidate for Bengaluru North seat M.V. Rajeev Gowda claims no one wants to say there is no Modi eect openly because everyone is in fear. He adds this is the atmosphere that has been created in this country where if someone criticises Narendra M
Contesting in a highstakes battle from a constituency, Bengaluru North, which has the highest number of voters in Karnataka, M.V. Rajeev Gowda is pitted against the BJP’s Shobha Karandlaje. Midway through hectic campaigning in his rst direct elections, he stopped over for a chat at The Hindu oce to talk about the Congress’ chances at breaking the Bengaluru jinx, his plans for the city if elected, and whether the “Modi factor” exists this time. Excerpts:
Since 1999, the Congress hasn’t been able to win a LS seat in Bengaluru. Why do you think that is and what is going to change this time?
The BJP has picked up in Karnataka, but in the last
Assembly elections, the anger against its non-performance was evident. So the party was ejected from power forcefully in 2023, and we are going to see the same thing happen now. There are 25 BJP MPs, and not one of them has raised his/her voice in support of Karnataka’s concerns and legitimate, justiable demands. People are now convinced that when it comes to delivering on promises, the only answer is the Congress.
Do you think the Congress’ victory in the 2023 Assembly elections will actually move the winds in its favour in the Lok Sabha elections?
Absolutely. One of our major achievements is the implementation of our ve guarantees. Initially, the Prime Minister called them freebies,
M.V. Rajeev Gowda during an interaction with The Hindu in Bengaluru. and now he’s saying he will o er his own guarantees. In those 10 years of Modi sarkar, people have been su ering from price rise
Coming to the constituency that you’re contesting from, it has the highest number of voters in Karnataka. It has also seen unprecedented growth. What are your priorities if elected?
Bengaluru North is where the action is. This is the new Bengaluru and so it’s important for us to develop these regions in a manner that is sustainable, inclusive, and something that nurtures prosperity and creativity and overall health and happiness.
You are pitted against the BJP’s Shobha Karandlaje. She has faced opposition from within her party for her nomination for this seat. Will that aect her chances in the polls?
Shobha akka... we were in Parliament together. She seems to have got a lot of opposition from within the party in Bengaluru North. She had even more opposition in Udupi-Chikkamagaluru. So this sort of thing is not very helpful to generate momentum for victory. This is also a person who was chased out of her old seat after 10 years. This is a person who has these grave corruption charges against her. Her track record is of trying to incite communal tension. Do we need that sort of person for Bengaluru? In contrast, the Congress seems to have given a candidate with a vision, a track record, ability to unite and heal, and to take everyone along in a much more inclusive, positive way. People are happy that that there’s a contrast.
That is generally the accusation against the Congress, that many candidates come from places of privilege and there is a disconnect between what’s on the ground...
I had a very middle-class life growing up. Whatever privilege comes is from the institutions that I have been associated with. Now, people are proud of me for being one of them: a simple mannina maga, who has done good. I can engage with the best in the world. I can represent the best of what Karnataka and Bengaluru have to o er.
If elected as an MP, what issues would you take up rst?
It should be when elected. The Central government has been very unjust and unfair to Karnataka. They have not given us the Finance Commission’s recommendations, and they haven’t given us droughtrelief funds. We need more of our tax revenues to come back to us because this is one of the most productive cities.
Do you think the “Modi eect” still exists?
If you spot it, let me know. What you see actually is the opposite. People are disappointed. No one wants to say it openly because everyone actually is in fear. That’s the atmosphere that has been created in this country where if you criticise Mr. Modi, you are termed anti-national. But people do see that that the delivery has not matched the rhetoric. When he talks about 370400 seats, it really is betraying nervousness, because they’re not even going to get 200 seats. They are going to lose in many States, starting with Karnataka. I don’t think there’s any Modi e ect. If anything, it is anti incumbency after 10 years.