'On Sonia Gandhi's Birthday...': DK Shivakumar Makes Big Declaration on Telangana Elections | Interview

The Congress will come to power in Telangana and the first cabinet meeting will be held on December 9, Sonia Gandhi’s birthday, to pass the orders to implement all six election promises in the state, senior party leader and deputy chief minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar told News18 in an exclusive interview.

“People want change and want to see KCR restricted to his famed farmhouse permanently,” he said.

Hitting the campaign trail in Telangana, where his popularity matches as that in his home state, Shivakumar also commented on the caste census controversy in Karnataka and the withdrawal of the state government’s approval for a CBI probe against him.

Edited excerpts:

You seem to be as popular in Telangana as in Karnataka…

I am a ground-level worker; leadership is next. Whatever we promise, whatever I speak, I do so with confidence, and that has been my strength. I have come to tell the people of Telangana that there should be a change. Sonia Gandhi ji made a promise to give you Telangana and delivered. You should be grateful to her and repay her.

Ten years have been given to KCR, and he has failed to fulfil the promises and commitments made to the people of Telangana. Voters have a choice; you have to be grateful. We have given you six guarantees, and that will change the family and economic life of all. Our six guarantees cover all aspects: housing, health, pension, Bhagyalakshmi, and also provide for farmers. These guarantees are enough for a common man to lead a common life. This is the commitment of the Congress party.

Will the Karnataka model work in Telangana?

Of course! K Chandrasekhar Rao did not fulfil the promises made, and I have come here to highlight that. What we promised in Karnataka, we cleared it in our very first cabinet. I am telling you the Congress party will come to power; on December 9, Sonia Gandhi ji’s birthday, we will have a cabinet meeting to implement all six guarantees in Telangana.

How confident is the Congress now in Telangana?

Let’s take a look at the constituency that I am in now – Warangal. The BRS candidate is a former deputy CM and MP. Despite his influence, people here are asking for change. They want a leader who will keep their promises; people want change and want to see KCR restricted to his famed farmhouse permanently.

You have added a sixth guarantee in Telangana, one more than Karnataka. This health insurance is being seen as a copy of the scheme that the BRS introduced. The BRS says that the Congress is copying their schemes. How do you react?

We need not copy anybody. After we gave these guarantees, both KCR and Modiji copied it. Modiji had said that the entire state will vanish, and Telangana will face a financial crisis. Now you see, Modiji has given a certificate to his partner that this will be a state with the highest corruption. First, let KCR give answers on the state of corruption. I also ask the voters to answer. The BJP knows they will not come to power, and so they are supporting KCR and his party through the back door. With our guarantees, we will change the destiny of the people of Telangana.

There is talk of an internal rift within the Congress on who will be the chief minister in case your party wins.

No question of “in case”; the Congress party will win. With the collective leadership, all will decide as to who will be the chief minister like we did in Karnataka.

The Karnataka cabinet has decided to withdraw approval for a CBI probe against you. How do you react?

There are a lot of lacunae connected with the case. I don’t want to be an advocate for myself. I did not attend the cabinet. It’s a call taken by the government. I had applied on the issue that whatever permission given was invalid. That is what the advocate general at the time said it was not right. I don’t want to take a call on the decision.

They say it’s relief for you from the Karnataka government because the Congress is in power.

I don’t want to say anything. I have not done anything wrong. It is a political call they have taken. This is a legal call that the government has taken, I feel.

On the caste census, it is being said that papers are missing, and it’s being done as a strategic political move.

We are committed to the socio-economic survey or the census that we have announced. We are saying there should be a systematic survey to be done.

It is being said that there are pages missing, and the report may be hidden.

I don’t want to comment any further.