The crucial Karnataka assembly elections, on May 10, will set the tone for a hectic electoral season culminating in the Lok Sabha polls of 2024. That Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, is from the state makes it all the more significant for him that his party defeats the ruling BJP.
In an exclusive interview at his Bengaluru home—where he made a pit stop before embarking on another election tour—Kharge spoke to THE WEEK in great detail about not just the Karnataka campaign, but also the national issues that confront him and his party. Excerpts:
Q/ The Congress has set a target of 150 [of 224] seats in Karna taka. What makes you confident of achieving this target?
A/ We want nearly 150 because, nowadays, governments with a thin margin are unstable, particularly after the BJP has come to power at the Centre. They are misusing various agencies to topple state governments. They ask MLAs to merge with their party, resign and get re-elected on their ticket. Therefore, we have set a target of 150 seats.
Q/ Is there a fear that the BJP could launch ‘Operation Lotus’ in Karnataka yet again?
A/ Their track record is like that. Not only Karnataka, they have done it in Maharashtra, they tried it in Rajasthan, they have done it in Manipur, in Goa. That is why, to have a stable government, it is necessary that we have these many MLAs.
Q/ This election must be especially significant for you not just because you are Congress president, but also because this is your home state.
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