22/04/2009 03:08:49  

It would be right if we call him the “Dakshin Modi” or the Modi of the south. The General secretary of the Bharatiya Janatha Party who played a vital role in brining the party to power for the first time in South India, Shri.H.N.Ananthakumar spoke exclusively to HK amidst his tight schedule in his own Bangalore South constituency. HKs correspondent  traveled a whole day with him to understand the enormous support he enjoys within the different sections of the urban population. He could be seen laughing and mingling with the corporate crowd in posh flats; at the same time playing cricket with the children in parks. Disalarmingly simple and intellectually vibrant, Shri Ananthkumar spoke out his thoughts, life and career. Below are the highlights of the interview





Q:We saw your cricketing skills just now? Looks like you are an experienced player? Did you dream of what you are now, when you were young?
A:Yes-I was a good Cricket player when I was young. I was the opening batsman and a wicket keeper at college. When I was young; I wanted to be a telephone operator. That was because my friend at that time had become a telephone operator. Later I wanted to be a Railway employee as my Father was in the railways. We were a middle class family. I came to politics by accident.

Q:How did you start your career in the BJP?
A:See, BJP gives chances to common man. My case itself is an example. As I told you before, I entered politics by accident. JP inspired me during the emergency movement. I was a PU student at Jobin's College. On Dec 8,1975 few of us students had decided to protest outside the college. Meanwhile the police and hundreds of students were watching the show. the Principal of te college asked us to disperse. That was a defining moment. We said we wont disperse and raised the slogan Bharath mata ki Jai. All of us were arrested and sent to jail. After more than a month on Sankranthi day on Jan 14 1976;we were produced in the court. I am really proud to say that Judiciary helped us and dismissed the case. The judge called our detention ridiculous and asked how can Bharath Mata ki jai and Vande Mathram be anti national?

I still remember the very next day,on Jan 15 1975;when I came back to the college, I had already become a hero. Few years later at Basaweswara chowk in Bijapur., I spoke for the first time to the public. After that I never looked back.

Q:What is new that you have to offer to Bangalore this time?
A:I have come out with a Bangalore action plan. Which will be based on our heritage and environment protection. I look forward to a clean Bangalore. BBMP doesn’t have an act, which is new and development friendly. So that will be a priority as well

Q:It seems that caste plays an important role in elections this time like never before, esp in Karnataka . Will that affect you in anyway?
A:Caste may play a role. I don’t deny that. But this is true only when the person do not know the candidate. See, my relationship with the people in Bangalore South is that of an old friend. They know all your tantrums; still that never annoy them because they are like your friend who understands you better than anyone.


Q:What do you think about your rivals at Bangalore South; esp Capt. Gopinath ?
A:See, this is a fight between the Congress and the BJP. It is a fight between, Manmohan and Advaniji at the center. The government is non-performing. The UPA has broken down into pieces. There is great amount of infighting in Karnataka .So these are factors that will help the BJP.
The present government headed by our Yedurappaji is doing a lot for the development of Karnataka in total and Bangalore in particular. There are around 1000 projects going on in Bangalore alone. You might have noticed the wider roads and the building infrastructure. Another factor is that People have great recall for the Vajpayee government and the development it has brought to Bangalore including the Bangalore International Airport.