Anitha Kumaraswamy says she will be JD(S)’s face for South Karnataka

The JD(S), known for its feudalistic politics, will for the first time have a woman at its helm, playing a prominent role in deciding the party’s fate in the upcoming 2018 Assembly elections. Anitha Kumaraswamy, wife of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, will not only contest the elections, she will be the key strategist for the party’s affairs in South Karnataka. She will have a major say in the candidate selection. 

In an interaction with Asianet Newsable on Wednesday, Anitha said that she decided to take on the responsibility of organising the party at the behest of her husband, who requested her “help”. Though she did not affirm her candidature from Channapatna, her laughter says it all. She however said that she would not let her party repeat its past mistakes - and that’s where her role would assume importance. Following are the excerpts from the interview.
 
Q) What made you don the role of a troubleshooter/strategist?
These elections are crucial for all three parties. When my husband told me that he needed my help, I decided to pitch in. Also, party people have been saying ‘Anna’ needed my help -- that he single-handedly can’t handle everything. I started my groundwork in the South Karnataka districts six months ago. My husband will take care of North Karnataka districts. He has been continuously travelling in those districts. Also, as elections might get advanced, we need to be better prepared.  

Q) Have you gained the political maturity to take on such a huge responsibility? 
It’s been eight-nine years since I first contested elections. But not many people know that I was involved in politics much before that. When Kumaraswamy contested the MP elections from Kanakapura in 1996, I was the one who campaigned for him for 45 continuous days. It was very hectic, but I learnt a lot. I am more evolved as a politician today. I have been travelling in South Karnataka extensively, and I have taken a personal interest in districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Tumakuru. 
 
Q) Will Kumaraswamy contest from one of the North Karnataka districts?
No no, he will be contesting from Ramanagara itself. They are only rumours that he will contest from some other constituency.
 
Q) Will you be contesting from Channapatna?
(Laughs). Let’s wait and watch. When I contested from Channapatna during the last Assembly elections, I got 73,600 votes. In fact, many people in North Karnataka have won with just 30,000 votes, much lower than what I garnered. I am very much comfortable in Channapatna. People of the district did not deceive me. I lost because of other reasons.
 
Q) Were you the one who resolved the conflict among leaders in Mysuru district after the party decided to field H Vishwanath from Hunsur? JD(S) MLA G T Deve Gowda wanted his son or wife to contest from there.
Yes, I resolved the Hunsur problem. I have known G T Deve Gowda from a long time. I came to know what was happening, and I thought I should speak to him. We spoke over phone first. Later on I met him as well, and convinced him to stay back in the party. It was a minor issue - a local problem. Every assembly constituency has many aspirants. G T Deve Gowda and his son have agreed to go with the party’s decision
 
Q) Kumaraswamy’s nephew Prajwal Revanna is keen on contesting from Hunsur. But he’s upset after it was made known that Vishwanath will be fielded from there. Where will he contest from? Did you also talk to him when you were tackling the Hunsur crisis?
H D Deve Gowda is the party supremo and he will decide who will contest from where - whether it’s me or Prajwal. No, I did not speak to him (Prajwal). My father-in-law will handle the issue - I can’t talk about it.
 
Q) Why is Vishwanath important to the JD(S)? When will he join the party?
Vishwanath is a dynamic leader, we need a politician like him. He will definitely be an asset to the party.  He is from the Kuruba community, and he has his own followers. It will help us. Though he has always been a Congressman, people of Hunsur will accept him. We are confident of bagging the seat. He will join the party at the earliest, maybe next month. He was supposed to join earlier this month, but maybe he needed some time to convince his people. 
 
Q) How will you throw yourself into the battlefield?
Right from candidate selection to campaigning, I will be actively involved. We need to ensure that the right candidate is selected. During the last elections we lost almost 30 seats by a narrow margin. That’s why we have decided to announce the candidate list much ahead of the elections. 
 
Q) Was it your idea to do so? The JD(S) has always announced the candidate list in the last minute.
Last time that was the mistake they (party leadership) made. It was my suggestion that we should announce names of the candidates well in advance for these elections. Though I have noticed the trend all these years, this time I told him (Kumaraswamy) that we should not repeat the same mistake again. Candidates need time to make preparations. At least 50 per cent of the candidate names will be decided by August-September
 
Q) How many seats will the JD(S) win this time? What will be the fate of the sitting MLAs?
As we are fielding candidates in all 224 constituencies, we are confident of winning more than 100 seats. The response is very good. In fact, in Bengaluru City alone we are sure of getting more than 10 seats. Without question our performance in South Karnataka will be very good. It’s a straight fight between JD(S) and Congress here. I haven’t travelled much in North Karnataka, I am not aware of what’s happening there. Tickets will be given to all the sitting MLAs.
 
Q) Do you and Kumaraswamy hold meetings to discuss politics on a regular basis?
It’s not that we discuss about politics everyday. I express whatever comes to my mind about the party. I am more concerned about him, his future, and party’s future. I give him suggestions, it’s left to him to accept it or not. But mostly he takes my suggestion seriously.
 
Q) Do you also hold discussions with Deve Gowda about the party’s strategies?
I haven’t spoken to him yet. He treats me like his own daughter, and he has advised me on previous occasions. I am very much proud to be his daughter-in-law 
 
Q) Will Kumaraswamy emerge as Karnataka’s next chief minister?
I think he will be Karnataka’s next chief minister. My husband was a popular chief minister and people love him. He is the only politician who is referred to as ‘Anna’. Wherever I go, especially in South karnataka, people are in favour of the party. People constantly come up to us and tell us that they want to see us come back to power. Even in urban areas like Bengaluru, the response is heartening. Namma Metro was Kumaraswamy’s dream project. People have recognised that he initiated the project when he was the chief minister.
 
Q) How is the party bearing the loss of seven rebel MLAs, who were suspended for anti party activities?
The exit of the seven MLAs is no loss to us. We will certainly retain all those seats.
 
Q) Both you and Kumaraswamy are also handling a personal crisis with regard to the Janthakal mining case. Are you worried that your husband might get arrested?
My husband has not committed any mistake at all - I am very confident about it. It’s all vindictive politics. The probe has been initiated after ten years. I am not all worried that my husband will be arrested. We will surely win the case
 
Q) With four persons contesting from your family alone (Kumaraswamy, H D Revanna, Prajwal and Anitha), will we see your son Nikhil Gowda entering the fray? Would you like to see him as a politician or an actor?
No, he will not contest the 2018 elections. But I don’t know about the future. It’s all destiny. I had never thought that I would enter politics one day. Whatever profession he chooses, whether it is films or politics, I just want him to be happy. 
 
 

• JD(S)
• Karnataka
• Anitha Kumaraswamy
• H D Kumaraswamy
• 2018 Assembly polls
• interview