Belagavi (Karnataka): Karnataka women and child development minister Laxmi Hebbalkar has emerged as one of the most prominent Congress leaders in the state. In this general election, her son Mrinal Hebbalkar has been fielded by the grand old party in Belagavi constituency against former chief minister Jagdish Shettar.
In an exclusive interview with The Wire on the campaign trail, Hebbalkar underlined what the Congress’s party’s strategy is and why Shettar is not a strong candidate against Mrinal.
Edited excerpts from an interview with her are below.
In Karnataka, what are the poll issues that the Congress party is focusing on, particularly in the next phase in North Karnataka?
In North Karnataka, especially in Belgaum district, we had floods in 2019 and 2020 and many animals were hurt and six people lost their lives, it was a very difficult phase. Modiji did not release a single rupee when there was flood. Fine, he did not release any money but he didn’t even visit the place and did not send the central team as well. The Centre treated us with complete indifference.
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
At that time, they had their own (BJP) government in the state also. Imagine even during the flood time they didn’t bother to come.
About the tax issue you might know. Our GST money they have taken and in return what are they giving us? Our tax money is our rights and we will fight for it. That also they have not returned to us. I mean to say that they are doing injustice to us again and again.
Mahadayi river water project is a major project in North Karnataka. It’s already approved but still they are not giving clearance. Why is this indifference to Karnataka?
You are the women and child development minister, what is the strategy of the Congress party with respect to women in the state?
We have spoken about five justices and 25 programmes in our central manifesto for women’s development. Our strategy is mentioned in the manifesto, we will focus on empowering women and also prioritise giving the best health facilities and benefits.
But the common people don’t really know what’s there in the Congress manifesto. What’s the party’s communication strategy?
I will talk about Karnataka, I don’t know about other states.
Like how we distributed guarantee cards before the assembly elections, we are distributing our guarantees mentioned in the [Lok Sabha] election manifesto this time as well. Almost 100% of my constituency [Belagavi Rural] I have covered.
We have distributed around 11 lakh guarantee cards and there is so much demand because people know that the Congress party delivers what it promises. People are calling us and asking for guarantee cards. When I’m going for campaigns and meeting people, many ask me for the guarantee cards and inform me that they haven’t received it yet. So, we are reaching the people at the grassroots level.
The Congress party is accused of indulging in dynastic politics. Even in Belagavi, your son is contesting.
The BJP has no moral right to ask this question or raise this issue.
What about Yediyurappa’s family? Devegowda’s family? Aren’t all of them also indulging in dynastic politics? Why are they questioning us then?
Photo: Tamanna Naseer.
While young people should be given an opportunity to be a part of electoral politics, your son Mrinal Hebbalkar is contesting against a heavyweight like Jagdish Shettar who has extensive experience in the Belagavi constituency. How is the public responding?
Jagdish Shettar did not become chief minister by his own efforts or by building the party nor leading the party or winning [an election for] the party but someone has [just] pushed him by giving the seat. All of a sudden he became a chief minister.
When he became the chief minister of the state, what work has he done, what has he given to the district, what is his credibility? He is the first person to have become a minister after stepping down from the post of chief minister.
If you call it experience then what experience does he have to lead the party or build an organisation, what is his contribution? It’s not like he was made the chief minister on the basis of merit. What has he done for Belagavi?
You are talking about his past contribution with respect to Belagavi. But if you look at the positive side then if he wins he might also be given a responsible position or ministry by the BJP if they come to power again. So, he might have the power to do good work for the state. So, don’t you think he is getting some advantage since some voters are considering that aspect?
When he became the chief minister he did nothing for the state, he had the power then and it didn’t translate into anything.
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But he was the chief minister only for 10 months.
Okay, leave the 10 months. Two times he became the district in charge minister then also what has he done.
Now, everyone is thinking that they will become the central minister. I’m not sure why you are thinking that Shettar will become a minister since (Basavraj) Bommai says in his speeches that he will be the central minister, Pralhad Joshi says that I’m the central minister, Yediyurappa won’t let go of an opportunity for his son to become a central minister, then there’s Shobha Karandlaje claiming to be a central minister.
Even their alliance partner JD(S)’s [H.D.] Kumarswamy said he will be the agriculture minister, they say [Dr. C.N.] Manjunath will be the health minister. How many members will be central ministers even when they haven’t won the election [yet]?
And how can anyone think of making the weakest CM of the state a minister? How will all these people become central ministers? Will they not give Pralhad Joshi a chance to be minister again since he is already the sitting minister?
There are differences between you and minister Satish Jarkiholi. Since he is a prominent Congress leader in the state and in Belagavi, in particular how are you managing the campaign without his support?
Satish Jarkiholi said he came seven times [for campaigning in Belagavi], I have gone two times [in Chikodi where Satish Jarkiholi’s daughter Priyanka Jarkiholi is contesting].
The entire party is working together. These are just rumours. Nobody will cross the party line. We have a very good chance to win [Belagavi], when we know that we have a good chance to win then all [party leaders] are sincerely doing their work to win.
The Marathas and Marathi speaking voters in general and Lingayats have traditionally supported the BJP. How are you planning to garner their support this time?
In the Lingayat community, there are subsets one of them is Panchamasali, 80% of the voters here are Panchamasali. I belong to this category and I represent Belagavi rural constituency where we have around 1,80,000 Marathi speaking voters and roughly 1,20,000 Maratha community voters are also there.
In that constituency, last time I won with a margin of 52,000 margin and this time I won with 58,000 margin; so the margin was 6,000 more. Why I am telling you is being an MLA of that area I have balanced my work. What all I have done for the Maratha community, nobody has done so much. I am always in favour of Kannadigas but I don’t let the Marathi speaking individuals face any injustice also.
The BJP and NDA [National Democratic Alliance] are banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for votes while the INDIA Bloc doesn’t have a prime ministerial candidate, isn’t it a big negative since many voters feel there’s no alternative to Modi that Congress and INDIA bloc have to offer?
In social media they have tarnished the image of Rahul Gandhi. What I have seen and everyone needs to see is Rahul Gandhi’s calibre, skill, mind and vision for the country. Why did he want the padyatra, what was the necessity, he has lost his father and grandmother and he could have comfortably settled. Why is he walking in the sun and rain? It’s not a good thing to say that there is no face we have but they are busy tarnishing his image every day. They are spoiling his image on social media.