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Anti-modi sentiment will take me to victory
From anxiously awaiting an announcement on his candidature, Congress Sivaganga Lok Sabha candidate Karti Chidambaram, son of former union finance minister P Chidambaram, has come a long way to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah the “two most hated people.”
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
He said that public sentiment against them would be enough to win the Lok Sabha polls. In this chat with DT Next, he counters criticism about his candidature and accuses the BJP of using “one-sided” I-T raids as “scare tactics” against the Opposition.
You started campaigning late and that too after a controversy arose over your candidature. After over a week on the campaign trail, what is your assessment of the public mood andpoll outcome?
There was no controversy. Candidature of others was announced on Friday. Mine was done on Sunday. All of us filed our nominations on Monday. I fail to understand why some people see controversy in my candidature. People are welcoming me wherever I go. Our alliance will repeat 1996 and 2004 victories.
Your candidature was hot topic a week ago. Sudarshana Natchiappan went public against you. Your candidature was described as dynastic…
I was involved in every election since 1996. I have been a candidate when there was no alliance. Why was it not raked up when we had contested without alliance? Why only now? Our leadership decided my candidature.
The Congress and DMK have been claiming that people want the AIADMK and BJP out. There is criticism that the campaign of the Opposition is based on anti-incumbency of AIADMK and BJP more than its own promises…
That is not true. We are giving a lot of promises. Minimum income support scheme, waiver of farm and education loans promised in the manifesto have made a big impact among rural population.After effects of demonetisation and GST have greatly affectedthe farmers and traders. No one wants this government. They want the BJP to go.
Till a while ago, the DMK-Congress combine seemed to have an edge. Now, the AIADMK-BJP combine seems to be catching up. Both Amit Shah and Narendra Modi have visited TN in the recent weeks...
Amit Shah visited my constituency. No one understood or even recognised him. People thought Santhana Bharathi (Tamil actor) came and spoke in Hindi. These two (Modi and Shah) are the two most hated people in Tamil Nadu, epitome of all things negative. People will reject them.
Your rival H Raja of the BJP is raking up probity in public life. His main poll plank seems to be the Aircel-Maxis and INX Media cases against you. How do you overcome that?
I have no cases against me. Check my election affidavit. I have no cases. I do not know him (H Raja). We are running a positive campaign. I am not concerned about other individuals. The sentiment against Modi is sufficient to win. Our alliance is wining. Minorities, Dalits, traders and farmers are with us.
The recent I-T raids at DMK leaders’ houses have become a talking point. Did the raids not cast a shadow on your campaign?
It is very clear that the raids were completely one sided. It exposes the duplicity of the Election Commission and the I-T department. They are using scare tactics against the Opposition. It will not work. Everywhere I go, I could make out that people are with us.
Sivaganga being your native and the constituency you had contested in 2014, you know its problems better. Have you identified specific issues that require immediate attention? What would be the issues you would attend first if you are elected to Lok Sabha?
My priority would be on two things. I will bring private investments to the constituency and make sure jobs are created. Also, my focus will be on irrigation. I will work to desilt all existing water bodies. Combined drinking water scheme plans are also on the drawing board.
Do people blame you or your father for the problems in the constituency? Your father represented Sivaganga the most in Parliament?
We have done a lot in the past. It was only in the last 5 years that things came to a pause. Also, the state government is to be blamed. The AIADMK has been in power. It did nothing for the constituency, but we will.
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