I am a candidate of circumstances: Madhwaraj

UDUPI:

Pramod Madhwaraj

is candidate of circumstances. The former minister is contesting these

Lok Sabha polls

from the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency — a traditional Congress pocket, the BJP first made inroads in the segment in 1998 — on a JD(S) ticket under a seat sharing arrangement with the Congress. But Madhwaraj insists the unique arrangement is not a handicap and voters are mature enough to understand the reasons behind this move. Excerpts:

Being a staunch Congressman, how do you feel contesting on a JD(S) ticket?

This (situation) is not what we wanted. It would have been ideal if I had contested as a Congress candidate. But as the seat was given to the JD(S), both chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister (and JD(S) supremo) HD Deve Gowda requested me to be their candidate. This move has the blessings of former chief minister Siddaramaiah (CLP leader) and KPCC chief Dinesh Gundurao.

Have you resigned from the Congress? How will you deal with this technicality?

The returning officer has accepted my nomination with the B form given by JD(S). This should put all doubts to rest.

People are unhappy that you were not available to them as a minister…

I was overloaded with work. As a minister I did not relax and could not devote enough time for party workers, who felt I was neglecting them. They have understood this and have resolved to work hard to ensure my win.

Not ensuring availability of sand was projected as your biggest failure?

The National Green Tribunal had issued a stay order against sand mining in CRZ areas. I got it vacated through the deputy commissioner and ensured 165 permits were issued in 28 blocks. Against a demand 9 lakh tonnes of sand, 6 lakh tonnes were extracted. Sand from here was being sold at exorbitant rates in Bengaluru. I stopped that menace and ensured sand was available locally. My successor, who promised sand would be easily available, has not been able to address the issue in the last 10 months.

How do you rate your chances especially against a perceived Modi wave?

The incumbent MP (Shobha Karandlaje of the BJP) has totally neglected the constituency and is banking on a perceived wave. She did not even bother to buy a house in either Udupi or Chikkamagaluru to bolster her local credentials.

How will you take cadres of the two parties along?
The electorate of this constituency is enlightened and even party workers have a fine understanding of this situation. They have accepted this arrangement in the interests of both parties. Besides, it is also an arrangement to ensure that anti-BJP votes are not split.