Actor and politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the son of former JD(S) Prime Minister HD Kumaraswamy, will make his parliamentary electoral debut from Ramanagara in 2019 after losing his first match to the Mandya Lok Sabha seat. Rashmi Belur about him and the future of his party. excerpt:
Why did you decide to participate from Ramanagara?
I would like to clarify that the challenge from Ramanagara was not my decision. In fact, I am personally in charge of the 40 constituencies in the 2023 election, and I want to strongly support my father on the road alone. But at that time, I was not in a position to say no to the party members or the leaders of Ramanagara. as they wished. Now I’m working hard to bring JD(S) to power.
Why should Ramanagara vote for Nikhil?
Ramanagara has developed extensively since 1994 when my grandfather HD Deve Gowda contested from this constituency. Since then there has been no shortage of development. We are still asking the people of Ramanagara to vote for development and employment. I have a dream to create an industry here especially for women and young people. There should be no unemployed young people in Ramanagara. Lastly, I would like to be his 24/7 representative “mane magazine”.
This election is do or die for JD(S). do you agree?
The National Party leader’s targeting of JD(S) in his Mandya speech shows the strength of our party. The 2023 election will be the answer, a new chapter and a new beginning. Not just Nikhil but Prajwal Revanna, Suraj Revanna and all the lads at the party beefing up his JD(S) in the coming days.
How will you react to the attacks by the Federal Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on JD(S), especially on parivarvaad (dynastic politics) and being the ATM of one family?
Both national parties have no morals to blame JD(S). Family politics is also in his BJP and parliament. If you want to talk about it, who is Tejasvi Surya? Sons of BS Yediyu rapper? We all go out in front of people asking for votes. If they decide to elect us, no one can stop them.
In the former Mysore region, much is said about Vokkariga voting. Both the BJP and parliament are trying to persuade them.
No political party can steal votes belonging to JD(S). We want to bring people from all communities together. People not only in his old Mysuru area but the whole state trust his HD Kumaraswamy and this time they give him a chance.
“Coordination politics” is being discussed. Do you agree that there is a coordinating politics in the old Mysuru region?
Coordination politics belongs to the BJP and parliament. They teamed up with Mandya Lok Sabha during the MLC election. they are the ones doing it. No worries as I have put my trust in the people of Karnataka.
Who is your political guru?
My Thata (grandfather) HD Deve Gowda has always been my inspiration. My father and mother are politicians, but we never discuss politics at home. On the ground, people teach us politics.
It’s been said that what works in movies doesn’t work in politics.
The 2019 Mandya Lok Sabha election was not my fault. I never spoke to my opponent. The entire election took place in cinema style. I wasn’t ready for the game yet, but there was pressure to do so. It is also true that internal enemies have played their part.
Does entering politics end your film career?
no way! His two of my movies are ready and I’ll talk about them after the election. Cinema is my profession and I have proven that I can achieve something outside of politics.But I have politics in my blood. I took a break from the movies.
What is the difference between politics and cinema?
Politics and cinema are worlds apart, like the sun and the moon. Movie stars become unavailable to people. But politicians need to be with people.
