The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has never won a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, has fielded Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar against three-time Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and senior CPI leader Pannyan Ravindran. In an interview with Organiser Special Correspondent Nishant Kumar Azad and Sub-editor Yatharth Sikka on April 24, Rajeev Chandrasekhar speaks about his plans for Thiruvananthapuram, the allegation of being an outsider, the Kerala model, and the party’s high chances of winning seats in Kerala for the first time. Excerpts:
You started your poll campaign much ahead of your rivals. The constituency is witnessing a high-voltage campaign. What has been your poll plank for the voters?
It is the ‘Politics of Performance’. Thiruvananthapuram has been deprived of progress and development for a long time due to the politics of non-performance. The constituency has huge potential for growth in several sectors, all of which were ignored in the past 15 years.
Your political opponents have termed you an outsider. How do you respond to this allegation?
I am an Indian and a Malayali. Nobody can deny this identity of mine. As the son of an Indian Air Force officer, I have roots across the country. I don’t know what their intention is.
Congress is continuously raising the issue of alleged corruption in the Electoral Bonds. What is your take in this regard?
Electoral Bonds brought transparency to political funding, a revolutionary step in combating corruption in politics. However, the Supreme Court’s verdict has gone the other way, and we now have to abide by the rule of law.
The Election Commission issued a’strict warning’ to Shashi Tharoor for cash-for-votes charges against you. What do you have to say about it?
The case was registered under Sections 171-G and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 65 of the IT Act. IPC 177-G refers to making a false statement in connection with an election, while IPC 500 relates to defamation.
The Election Commission’s warning served as a response to critics, reaffirming the need for integrity in political discourse. It’s natural that there will be legal consequences when one raises such a baseless and untrue allegation. I will fight it by all legal means to the fullest extent.
You often speak of how Kerala, and in particular, Thiruvananthapuram, missed the bus in the race for development. What is the basis for this criticism?
I have found that the people of Thiruvananthapuram long for a change. The stagnation witnessed in the constituency over the past 15 years asserts the need for proactive measures to address the aspirations of the people.
I am highlighting the progress, development, and future vision that India has seen in the last ten years. We need to leverage the strides made by India in the last decade for the holistic development of Thiruvananthapuram, in particular, and Kerala in general.
The state government often makes tall claims about the ‘Kerala Model’, whether it is in education, health, or some other sector. Two models are discussed in the country: the ‘Kerala Model’ and the ‘Gujarat Model. How do you see both of these models?
The ‘Kerala Model’ has become a prominent example of financial mismanagement. The state government’s mishandling of public funds has resulted in a severe financial crisis, leading to delayed salaries for government employees. The Supreme Court has also drawn attention to this situation. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Model is being adopted nationwide, showcasing India’s transformation over the last decade. Under the leadership of the Modi Government, we have ascended to the position of the fifth-largest economic power.
UDF and the LDF are raising the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the conflict in Manipur to attack the Modi Government at the Centre. What do you have to say in this regard?
UDF and LDF have chosen to divert the attention of the people by spreading misinformation about unrelated matters like Manipur and the CAA. The people deserve honest discussions about the fundamental challenges. The voters are aware of their malicious intention of spreading falsehood and lies on such matters.
In the past, BJP has failed to make inroads in the state. What are the chances for the party this time?
If I talk about Thiruvananthapuram in particular, in 2019, the BJP got 31 per cent vote here, while Tharoor got 41 per cent.
Will you be able to defeat the three-time MP and cover this huge margin?
Thiruvananthapuram has been denied development and jobs for the last 15-20 years. None of the two MPs (who represented the seat all these years) did anything for the people. The people here are craving for development, change and jobs. The youth want opportunities.
One issue that the PM raised during his rallies here is the Kerala Cooperative Bank scam, which has duped many people and is worth crores of rupees. What is your take on this, and how will you ensure that people get back their hard-earned money?
PM Modi had already assured that strict action would be taken against those involved in the irregularities in cooperative banks in the state. Our government will take strict action against everyone involved and will ensure that the depositors get justice.
Kerala, in general, and Thiruvananthapuram, in particular, have a lot of tourism and maritime potential. How do you propose to capitalise on this potential?
The establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Neyyattinkara, a new Technopark in Parassala and the initiation of a Thiruvananthapuram Research and Innovation Cluster (T-RIC) involving research institutions in the capital district are also in the vision document.
For the tourism and wellness industry, my plan is to make Thiruvananthapuram a wellness tourism destination.
We will give due recognition to Thiruvananthapuram in heritage tourism. Basic infrastructure will be improved and ensured in all tourist destinations under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes.
I stand for the politics of performance. I am also here to bring the advantages of PM Modi ji’s vision of Viksit Bharat to the benefit of citizens in Thiruvananthapuram.
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