‘Dynasty politics hindered Mandya from producing local candidate’

BENGALURU: The BJP has invited former Union minister SM Krishna to campaign in the Old Mysuru region. Krishna, who hails from Mandya district in the Cauvery heartland, talks about the Congress getting isolated at the national level and his home district getting sucked into dynasty politics.
Will you support actor Sumalatha’s candidature for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat if she contests as an independent?
I don’t know much about Sumalatha.I knew her husband MH Ambareesh to some extent as I was among those instrumental in bringing him into politics when I was the deputy CM. I took him to campaign for the Congress in 1992. Sumalatha is meeting me on Thursday. Let me hear from her and then I’ll be able to formulate my position.
Why is the political scenario in Mandya mired in confusion?
There has been a total degeneration of political values. The district is not an orphan and has huge potential, both in terms of men and women. If Mandya cannot produce somebody who can represent that district in Parliament, it’s sad. Sometimes I wonder what has happened to Mandya...
What are the reasons for this?
Dynastic political compulsions being forced on Mandya. You haven’t been able to find a candidate who belongs to the JD(S) with a strong foothold in the district which has historically had a strong Vokkaliga dominance. I’m opposed to dynastic perpetuation, whether it’s of the Gandhis or Gowdas
What about dynastic perpetuation by your party’s state president BS Yeddyurappa?
Yeddyurappa is trying to perpetuate it in his own constituency. If he had perpetuated this in Mysuru, his son would have won there in 2018, such was the upsurge of public support. The BJP took a value-based decision that father and son cannot contest from neighbouring constituencies.
What about your family entering electoral politics?
Fortunately, they’re not interested. I’m blessed because I’ll be ending politics with me. Presentday politics doesn’t suit my sense of values.
How do you look at the prospects of the BJP and Congress at the national level?
The Congress at the national level is minuscule. In a state like Uttar Pradesh, caste-based political parties like the BSP and SP don’t want to touch the Congress with a barge pole. But the Congress has made a heroic announcement that it’s going to field candidates in all 80 Lok Sabha constituencies which is sheer bravado.
Why do you think the Congress is getting isolated nationally?
In order to gain trust and recognition of other political parties, there has to be a certain degree of compatibility. I have seen how the Congress functions whereever there is talk of coalition or a coalition in office. They always take the big brother attitude. That irritates smaller parties who have their own self-esteem.
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It was inevitable. Perhaps it’s the only big state where the Congress has a 50% say in matters. Pan India, Congress is not a force to reckon with. It’s unfortunate that the Grand Old Party of the country should descend to this. It’s primarily because of the dynasty’s stranglehold or sycophants milling around the dynasty.
You’ve batted for Narendra Modi saying his becoming the PM again is inevitable. What is most impressive about him?
A number of reasons. Even while I was in Congress, I welcomed demonetisation and surgical strike. I’ve made my own assessment on the basis of the way Modi has led the nation. One of his most outstanding contribution is corruption-free gover nance.
Just because scams don’t tumble out, can a government be called corruption-free?
Corruption cannot be locked up in a closet; it has a tendency to spill out. The only thing the opposition is harping on is the Rafale deal which is a government-to-government contract. It’s trying to make out a case of corruption but I don’t thing it has succeeded because Congress president Rahul Gandhi is making it from every conceivable platform. It hasn’t stuck. Even his coalition partners haven’t bought his thinking.
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I don’t think Modi will create a vacancy for anybody to become PM in 2019 and if he is fit and healthy in 2024 too.