Fight against Kalladka Bhat will continue, says Ramanath Rai

While his opponents knit new conspiracies to pull him down, Mr Rai grows a notch above his opponents through sheer dedication, sincerity and by remaining amongst the people he represents.

Mr Rai has contested from Bantwal Assembly constituency seven times and won six times and he is ranked among the influential politicians in the state.

While he tided over all the conspiracy of his opponents even this time, here are some excerpts from the winner himself after he heaved a sigh of relief after hectic days.

You had proclaimed that this election was between Ramanath Rai and Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat. What made you say that?

Rai: As far as Bantwal is concerned, some individuals connected to the Sangh Parivar have been trying vehemently to implement their secret agenda, the efforts for which have been time and again foiled by me. This has made the Sangha Parivar leaders take it as a challenge to defeat me in the polls. Since the BJP Government was governed by Mr Bhat, we had witnessed some of the important positions in the state going to people from Bantwal. All this was an eye wash only to lure the voters of the region.

While I was fully aware that Mr Bhat wanted to dictate terms in this region, I made this statement only to warn my voters of the episodes that will unfurl during the polls. My priority is communal harmony and my aim is to keep the peace and harmony in the region intact. My fight against policies and plans of Mr Bhat will continue.

What are your strategies to keep minority votes intact?

Rai: The BJP keeps trying to divide the minority votes but here in this district the minority voters are very intelligent. They precisely know the intention of every party and individuals. Hence they have always backed the secular party and the secular candidates.

My strategy to keep minority votes with me is simple. I am here to safeguard the interest of my people, which includes the minorities too without any differentiation.

If given with greater responsibility, what is the post that you would love to get in the Congress government all set to be formed in the State?

Rai: Being an honest worker of the party I will bow down to the decision taken by the party leadership.

After having won six times, what is your next plan for your political career?

As an MLA, I have the age and the health to work for my people. I had become an MLA at a very young age and that was not my fault. The ones who taste defeat often stay away from the competition. The ones who win and the ones who work sincerely are never asked to stay away from the competition. The ones who feel that I should back out from elections are only exhibiting their ignorance.

What is the major problem faced by your constituency?

Rai: According to my knowledge drinking water is the major problem faced by my constituency. This is in fact the problem of the entire district as well. However, to tackle this problem multi-village drinking water scheme has been implemented, which will be completed by next summer. Under this project water will be lifted from river, purified and supplied to rural areas. This should solve the problem to large extent.

Will pumping of water from river sources not pose problem to farming activities?

Rai: Since the quantity of water lifted from river will be rather minimal, it will have no implication on farming activities. Further since there are separate projects for irrigation, the users should make it a point to use the purified water for drinking purpose only.

What is your take on providing title deeds to those who have encroached and built houses on government land?

Rai: It has been seen that over the last eight years the programme of distributing land and houses to the landless has not been taken up. Due to this reason, many landless families have encroached government land and built houses. During S M Krishna's tenure as CM the Act facilitating the distribution of title deeds to such families was started.

However, the BJP government has not accepted applications from the beneficiaries for the same programme. Now that the Congress is all set to come to power, the works of distributing title deeds and sites to the landless will gain momentum.

What are the programmes in your mind for the youth?

Rai: Our youth can be employed only if there is industrialization. I believe that industries which are not hazardous in nature must be encouraged so that it generates adequate employment for the youth force.

One of your opponents had said during the campaigning that in Bantwal constituency there are Dalit colonies which do not have power. What do you have to say about this?

Rai: The person who has made this allegation is either new to the constituency or he probably spoke of the situation that existed 20 years ago.

Under Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Project, works of about Rs 120 crores are in progress. Bantwal constituency will soon reach a position of not having even a single household without power.

There is a belief that the Dalit are the vote bank of the Congress and even we believe it. The upper classes are the loyal voters of the BJP.

There is nothing wrong if the Dalits vote for the Congress because it is Congress which has worked for the uplift of the Dalits. Today if a Dalit ascends to the post of President of a Gram Panchayat it is because of the reforms of the Congress.