THALAIVAA:
Narendra Modi and Rajinikanth shared a hug and a handshake at the Tamil superstar’s home in Chennai on Sunday. “This is not a political meeting,” said Rajinikanth.
Alongside former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, nine-time MLA and railway minister Mapanna Mallikharjun Kharge is part of a select club. He evokes respect from both extremes of the political spectrum. Ever since he lost the race for the top job in Karnataka to Siddaramaiah, a section of Congress workers are referring to Kharge as north Karnataka’s chief minister. Excerpts from an interview:
Do you see yourself as north Karnataka’s CM?
I am not interested in factionalism. It is my desire to work for the state and the whole country. Some May refer to me as CM of north Karnataka out of enthusiasm but we are all united.
Are power cuts and water shortage issues this time?
I don’t think these are issues in parliamentary elections. The fight this time is over the question of secularism. It is about the very conception of the Indian state.
But people seem to be calling this a fight between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.
I think it is wrong. We are fighting to keep the secular traditions of his country alive. The fundamentalist RSS has projected Modi. He is virtually a threat to the existence of the BJP. Modi and RSS have a record of fascist tendencies.
Modi said everybody is working to keep him out.
We are fighting against forces who want to divide the country. He represents those forces.
In 2009, you won by a slender margin. What has changed this time?
Five years ago people were not aware of what an MP can do. I have built hospitals, national highways and implemented major railway projects. The dreams of people for better education and jobs will come true.
Recently, a minister’s men attacked an AAP rally to prevent anyone from contesting against his brother.
I don’t know the details of the case but nobody can or should try to prevent somebody from contesting. Siddaramaiah will never give scope for such activities.