Hebbal BJP candidate Y.A. Naryanaswamy is confident of winning the just concluded Assembly by-election. He had admitted that without the support of former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, he could not have made much progress in the poll campaign. He asserted that there was no internal bickering in the city BJP, adding that Hebbal was facing law and order problems after the Congress came to power in the state. Excerpts from an interview.
Now that polling is over, why do you think Hebbal voters might have supported your candidature?
Earlier, the BJP did carry out developmental works here. Though the Congress is ruling the BBMP, no development works have been done in the constituency. To carry forward the development works done by previous MLAs, Katta Subramanya Naidu and Jagadish Kumar, I think, voters might have supported me. I know that I am an able candidate and can carry out development works.
Hebbal is a mix of illiterate and literate voters. It has the highest number of educated voters, in what way do you appeal to educated voters?
My educational qualification, culture, behavior and my approach has been appreciated by educated voters. I am hundred percent confident that educated voters have voted in favour of me.
The Opposition Congress said that you are an outsider, know little about Hebbal constituency, is it true?
In the last 25 years I am staying in Hebbal. I studied the constituency profile very well and know about the problems. The media should ask about where Jaffer Sharief’s house is situated, he lives in Tanisandra, he does not belong to Hebbal.
It is clear that the BJP city unit is divided. Since you are a die-hard supporter of Union Law and Justice Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, do you think, former Home Minister R. Ashok supported your candidature?
Firstly, there is no internal bickering in the state BJP and city BJP. Mr Ashok campaigned for me for one week. He has attended booth level meetings at Hebbal. Like Ashok, Union Minister Ananth Kumar and BJP state unit President Pralhad Joshi campaigned in Hebbal.
Do you think former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu put in an honest effort for your win in Hebbal?
Without the support of Katta Subramanya Naidu I cannot win the elections. He made a two hundred percent effort during the campaign. Katta is our leader, he and former MLA Jagadish Kumar are household names in Hebbal. Since Katta Subramanya Naidu refused to contest and Jagadish Kumar’s family members were not interested in entering the fray, the party proposed my name.
The BJP is hoping a polarization of votes will give it an edge in the polls, do you thing polarization will help you win the elections?
I have no faith in polarization. To build a nation or state, we have to live together and take people together. Without polarization of votes, I can win in the elections. Congress is engaging in polarization for its benefit.
What is the main issue you would like to address on priority in Hebbal?
Law and order is the main issue in Hebbal Assembly constituency. It is like mini-India. We have to give security to the people. After the Congress party came to power in the state, law and order has collapsed in Hebbal.
