Five-time BJP MP from Bangalore (South) HN Ananth Kumar on Sunday said the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will not a battle of personalities but will be fought over issues such as corruption, inflation and price rise.
Speaking to dna on a host of issues, Ananth Kumar said Nandan Nilekani, the chairperson of Unique Identification Authority of India (UDAI), who is likely to contest from Bangalore South on a Congress party ticket, would have to make his stand clear on corruption if he decides to contest from Bangalore South.
“Anyone contesting from the Congress should make his/her stand clear on corruption, misgovernance, inflation, price rice and security concerns. But I will only know about his candidature when the Congress announces the list. If he does contest, I want to know his stand on corruption and other such issues,” said Kumar.
Kumar said his track record from Bangalore South — the constituency he has been representing since 1996 — shows that the people are still with him. “In 1996, the BJP in Bangalore South secured a vote share of 34%. In 2009, the vote share jumped to 60%,” said Kumar. Calling Bangalore South the BJP’s stronghold, Kumar said no party will succeed in snatching the constituency away from the party.
When asked whether Nilekani would attract youth and IT professionals, Ananth Kumar said the youth would vote for the BJP since they want Narendra Modi to become the prime minister. “There is no contest between the BJP and the AAP. The youth of the country are supporting Modi. There is a strong Modi wave not only in the state, but in the entire country,” said Kumar.
Kumar said the Lok Sabha elections will be fought on the issue of misgovernance and corruption of the UPA versus the promise of good governance being made by the BJP. “The UPA is the reason for price rise, soaring inflation and a plethora of scams. That’s why people are looking at the BJP and are gravitating towards the leadership of Narendra Modi,” said Kumar.
