Q&A: I've no deal with Vokkaliga leaders in Congress, JD(S), says R Ashok

With just eight months left for the 2018 Assembly elections, the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party is gearing up to take on the ruling Congress with party leaders kick-starting their agitations on an aggressive note against the state government. For the BJP, Bengaluru is the gateway to grabbing power from the Congress – of the 28 Assembly constituencies in BBMP limits, the saffron party had won 11 seats in the 2013 elections, the ruling Congress 14 and the remaining 3 were bagged by JD(S). Party president Amit Shah wants the state unit to win 25 Assembly seats in the city in 2018. Taking this as a challenge, former deputy chief minister R. Ashok, who is also the party’s prominent face in Bengaluru, has decided to hold a ‘Wake up Niddaramaiah’ campaign (According to Ashok, this is the nickname of CM Siddaramaiah) across the city. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Mr Ashok shared his ideas and future strategies to take on the Congress government and dismissed allegations that he had entered into a tacit understanding with Congress and JD(S) leaders belonging to his Vokkaliga community. Here are excerpts.

There are only eight months left for the 2018 Assembly elections, but as a main opposition party, the BJP has not conducted any major strike against the state government in the last four years. Do you have any plan to start agitations in the future?

Yes, the city BJP unit has decided to conduct a series of agitations against the state government for its misdeeds. Recently, the Chief Minister announced the denotification of lakes, the party will take up this issue in the coming days. Moreover, heavy rain lashed the city last week, but the BBMP was not prepared to tackle the situation. The apathy of the CM towards Bengaluru city will be highlighted and a door to door campaign will be initiated against the government in the next six months. The BJP has also decided to launch a ‘Wake up Niddaramaiah’ campaign against the CM over his lack of concern for Bengaluru. He has been repeatedly saying that the government has released Rs 8,000 crore for the development of the city but where has the money gone? Development is not visible.

The BJP too has failed to take any issue against the state government to its logical end, it has dropped the Arkavathi redo scam and the curtailing of powers of the Lokayukta for which the ACB was constituted. Why did the party give up its campaign on such major issues?

The party had in fact raised the Arkavathi issue both inside and outside the Assembly. However the state government quickly constituted a judicial commission to probe the alleged illegalities, which prevented the BJP from proceeding further. The government has asked the judicial commission to submit its report in three months and is sure to take shelter based on the report submitted by the commission.

What does the party have to say about the alleged failure of law and order in the state especially in Bengaluru?

Law and order has completely collapsed in the state, in Bengaluru, murder and chain snatching incidents have increased due to the inaction of the police. A week back, our party leader and film actor Jaggesh’s son was attacked publicly; it was due to the failure of the police to act against anti-social elements. The absence of a full-time home minister and too much interference in department affairs by the home minister’s advisor Kempaiah, are the main causes of breakdown of law and order. Police officials are confused from whom they should take orders. The home department has become completely direction less. In the coming days, the Bharatiya Janata Party will take up law and order as a priority issue.

It was reported that during his three-day visit to Bengaluru, BJP president Amit Shah grilled state BJP leaders for their poor show in fighting the state government. Did Mr Shah give any specific target to the city BJP?

During the meeting with city BJP MLAs, Mr Shah gave us a target to win 25 Assembly seats in Bengaluru. At present, we have 11 Assembly seats, he told us that since the party had won all three Lok Sabha seats, why could it not win 25 Assembly seats? He also gave us some inputs to work in this direction.

Why is the BJP opposing Indira Canteen though it has received a good response from the public?

We are opposing the construction of canteens in parks, playgrounds and land belonging to temples. If a canteen is constructed in a park, it will affect the birds. Since we have shortage of land for playgrounds, constructing a canteen in a playground can’t be agreed to. Moreover, why is the Congress naming the canteen after its former PM, Indira Gandhi, it could have named it ‘Namma Canteen.’ Why should we accept the name, Indira for a canteen being constructed using public money? If the BJP names any of its projects after its party leaders, will the Congress accept it? We are not opposing the supply of food to the poor, we are only opposed to the manner in which the Congress is going about setting up the canteens.

What are the political implications for your party after the opening of Indira Canteens?

We will adopt a wait and watch policy on Indira Canteen, they have just started providing food. There is a lot of confusion regarding the supply of food and hygiene issues. The Bharatiya Janata Party is doubtful if the canteens will operate smoothly in future, confusion has already set in regarding the awarding of tenders to prepare food for 198 canteens in the city. After obtaining a feedback from the public, the party will act on this scheme.

You have been accused of entering into a tacit understanding with your friends in other parties especially Congress and JD(S) belonging to your Vokkaliga community. Is it true?

If I had adjustments with leaders of the Congress and JD(S), would we have won three Lok Sabha seats in Bengaluru? And how did we win 101 seats in the BBMP? These are totally false allegations. In fact we have conducted rallies against the Congress government but they were not properly highlighted due to differences between party president B.S.Yeddyurappa and Opposition leader in the Council K.S. Eshwarappa. Now it has been settled, the party can launch an aggressive campaign against the Congress government.

Then why are you soft on Congress MLA of Rajarajeshwarinagar, Munirathna Naidu, when your party’s women corporators keep complaining of his alleged atrocities against them?

I too have criticized Munirathna Naidu, he is the most corrupt MLA in the Congress party. In my public life, I never seen such an MLA. He is not only corrupt, he does not have a humane approach while dealing with issues. Last year we had conducted a massive protest rally against him, I too had attended the rally.