This story is from October 18, 2018

‘Wasn’t given ticket because I’m CM’s wife, but because I built party in Ramanagara’

‘Wasn’t given ticket because I’m CM’s wife, but because I built party in Ramanagara’
ALL EYES ON HER: Anitha Kumaraswamy refuted allegations that she is inaccessible to voters in the constituency
BENGALURU: If Anitha Kumaraswamy wins the Ramanagara bypoll on November 3, she’ll join her husband and chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in the legislative assembly for the second time. She’ll battle L Chandrashekhar, BJP political greenhorn and son of a Congress MLC. Anitha, 54, who lost the 2013 Channapatna assembly poll to CP Yogeshwar (Samajwadi Party) and the 2014 Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha poll to Congress leader and water resources minister DK Shivakumar’s brother Suresh, is confident of victory this time.
How confident are you?
Ramanagara constituency has witnessed rapid development ever since my father-inlaw (former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda) won in 1994 and became chief minister.
My husband, who took over from him, continued the good work by ensuring overall development and creating an emotional bond with voters. I’m confident his welfare schemes and development work and new schemes of the JD(S)-Congress government will ensure my victory.
There was stiff opposition to your candidature...
It’s quite common. Our party had several aspirants and they made a fuss when they weren’t considered. Congressmen felt let down as their party decided to support JD(S). BJP never had a base. I was considered not because I am Kumaraswamy’s wife but because I worked to build the party in Ramanagara.
Does losing to Yogeshwar and DK Suresh affect your prospects in Ramanagara?
I don’t think so. I lost to Yogeshwar by a small margin and I didn’t lose Channapatna for political reasons, but for something else which I cannot disclose. I’ll be careful and won’t let it happen.

D K Shivakumar and his brother are reportedly upset with party leaders for allying with JD(S) in Ramanagara…
There isn’t an iota of truth in these reports. Both are big leaders who understand they need to sacrifice a few things locally to keep the BJP at bay nationally and they backed my candidature.
Some JD(S) leaders in Ramanagara allege you aren’t easily accessible to voters…
I’ve been working closely with people there. Whenever Kumaraswamy contested, I single-handedly managed his campaign. In the recent polls too, my son Nikhil and I worked to ensure his victory in Ramanagara and Channapatna. Would this have happened if I wasn’t accessible?
What’s your agenda for Ramanagara?
Ensure Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences is shifted to Ramanagara campus, expedite widening of Bengaluru-Mysuru national highway, set up a dairy and garment factory.
Will Nikhil contest 2019 Lok Sabha poll from Mandya?
No. He is focusing on his film career. His entry into politics will be decided only by senior party leaders.
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