If we remain among people, they’ll back Cong: Mane

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Hangal witnessed one of the fiercest bypoll battles in recent years and though Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai took it as a matter of prestige spending almost eight days campaigning in the constituency, the ruling BJP was defeated. The support of the Panchamsali voters helped the Congress sail through with its candidate, Srinivas Mane defeating Shivaraj Sajjanar of the BJP by around 7,000 votes. Mane belongs to Dharwad district but has found political re-birth in the Hangal by-poll. He was earlier elected to the State Legislative Council and his tenure will end on January 5, 2022. Mane distributed grocery kits and medicines among needy villagers during the Covid-19 pandemic, and this helped him to win the confidence of people. He spoke to News Trail on how he pulled it off in Hangal.

How do you feel after having won the closely-fought battle in Hangal?

I feel good. Though the entire government machinery was there putting pressure on voters, they supported me. They voted for those who stood for humanity and the Congress party’s programmes.

How long have you been associated with Hangal?

Though I lost to C.M.Udasi of the BJP by a margin of around 6,000 votes in the 2018 Assembly elections, I never lost touch with my constituency. I have been associated with Hangal for the last three and a half years. I remained in contact with the people on various issues which proved an advantage for me.

Did your good deeds during the Covid-19 pandemic help you a lot?

Definitely. Our party workers worked extensively during the pandemic and it helped in the consolidation of votes. We distributed grocery kits, medicines and financial help to people in need and they did not forget it and voted for the Congress. The electorate was happy with the service we rendered during the crisis.

Recently, Sri Jayamruthyunjay Swami of Koodalasangama Mutt said the Panchamsali Lingayats supported the Congress this time as the ruling BJP did not give the Hangal ticket to a Panchamsali candidate or to a family member of former BJP MLA late C.M.Udasi and did not respond to the reservation demand. Did the Panchamsalis help you?

I do not know about it as the pontiff has never supported our party openly. But irrespective of creed, caste and religion, people have voted for me.

You are aware that Lingayat voters deserted the Congress and backed the BJP after Veerendra Patil was unceremoniously removed from the CM post by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Do you think that the community is slowly returning to the Congress fold?

Yes. The BJP has used these communities but did nothing for them. So, they are now looking to the Congress with hope because of its commitment to society.

Will this support of the Lingayats last till the 2023 Assembly elections?

It’s not like that. If we remain among the people, they will back the Congress and our party will come to power in 2023.

Why did Panchamsali voters not support the Congress in Sindagi where BJP’s Ramesh Bhusanur won by a big margin?

Sindiagi had a lot of other issues. The Congress party was not well-prepared and so, suffered a setback. Apart from this, I would not like to make any comment as our senior leaders will answer on this. They are in a better position to evaluate the defeat.

When did you realise that you were going to win?

I was confident from the day I filed my nomination. The people’s response, the crowds, the continuous campaign programmes and the josh of voters boosted our confidence.

Why did the BJP lose? CM Bommai camped and campaigned in Hangal for almost eight days. He and Yediyurappa even campaigned jointly for four days. But they still failed to pull it off?

The BJP has lost ground and people no longer have faith in the saffron party. Price rise, crop insurance issues, crop damage, unpaid grants, and unimplemented social welfare schemes went against the party. People were fed up with the BJP government.

Did the absence of late C.M. Udasi from the scene when the Covid-19 pandemic was raging, help you?

I don’t think so. Our party was united and they(party workers) worked hard.

Would the fight have been tough if the BJP had given the ticket to a member of the Udasi family?

That would not have impacted the result. No matter who was the candidate, I was confident of winning. But the fight would have been more intense if the BJP had given the ticket to the Udasi family.

The Congress works well during bypolls but not during general elections. How do you intend to put up a good show in the 2