CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Former Karnataka minister K Sudhakar has been steadily rising in the BJP since he joined the party in 2019, leaving Congress. Being a trained doctor, he was readily picked up as cabinet minister for health and medical education in the BJP government. When the Covid struck, he was actively involved in tackling the pandemic. During the 2023 assembly polls, he was even made manifesto committee convenor. However, he suffered a setback during the state polls. But that did not deter the party, as the 50-year-old was again picked up as a candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from Chikkaballapura seat. A good show here may poise him for a new role at the centre. The WEEK caught up with him during the campaign. Excerpts from the interview.
Please tell us about your constituency and issues in this election, particularly the state.
My constituency Chikkaballapura is unique in terms of its strategic location. All eight assembly segments in the constituency are within 100 km of Bengaluru. So, there is a huge potential to develop towns like Chikkaballapura, Devanahalli, Doddabbalaura, Nelamangala and Hosakote as satellite towns. This will not only decongest Bengaluru but also provide jobs for youth locally.
With no perennial source of water, the people of the Bayalusemee region have been longing for a permanent solution for their irrigation and drinking water needs for several decades. The Yettinahole project, planned in 2008 and started in 2013, is seen as a ray of hope for Bayalusemee’s water woes. However, even after a decade, the project has not seen the light of the day. Speeding up the implementation of the Yettinahole project and bringing a separate national project will be my top priority. A lot of farmers in my constituency are dependent on floriculture and horticulture. Setting up food processing units and getting a National Flower Board is on my to-do list.
When it comes to the state, Karnataka has immensely benefited from PM Modi’s government during the last 10 years. Be it railways, highways, airports, housing for all, tap water connection to every household through Jal Jeevan mission, health insurance through Ayushman Bharat, Kisan Samman for farmers, Kannadigas have immensely benefitted from the Centre. Moreover, the PM has provided a corruption-free, people-oriented, development-focused governance in the last 10 years. India’s stature has increased on the global stage. The alliance with JDS has further strengthened BJP and Karnataka will give a historic mandate for NDA in this election.
2) How do you look at the one year of the Congress government in the state? Has it delivered on its guarantees?
Karnataka Congress is a divided house and hence Congress can never give a stable government. Congress guarantees have made the state go bankrupt leaving no money for development. This is not our allegation, the DCM and CM’s financial advisor have themselves admitted that guarantees have become a burden and there is no money for development.
In Siddaramaiah’s first term, Karnataka’s debt rose from Rs 1,39,000 cr to Rs. 2,86,790 cr, in just five years. The annual interest burden on the state shot up from Rs 8,500 cr to Rs. 16,208 cr leaving a debt burden of Rs 44,000 on every citizen. His second term is also pushing the state into a serious debt crisis. That’s why we are demanding the government release a white paper on the state’s finances.