Subhash Rathod, the Congress candidate for Chincholi, had earlier been elected to the Zilla Panchayat on a Congress ticket. Miffed with the Congress for denying him a ticket for the 2008 Assembly polls, he had joined the BJP. Rathod has returned to the grand old party after the BJP fielded turncoat Umesh Jadhav in the Lok Sabha polls. He spoke to DH amid the hectic campaigning.
Why should voters of Chincholi assembly segment vote for you?
I vow to accomplish the dreams I saw for the development of Chincholi Assembly segment. Due to efforts made by Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former chief minister N Dharam Singh and former minister Vaijanath Patil, the Hyderabad Karnataka Region Development Board is receiving huge funds. The people of Chincholi segment should vote for me to eradicate unemployment.
What will be your priority if elected?
Priority will be accorded for employment generation and irrigation. A scheme will be chalked out to store rainwater.
Do you have the support of the Banjara community?
I have roamed all tandas of the constituency. Around 400 students of the segment are studying in Gulbarga University and the Central University of Karnataka. Besides helping them, I have been in touch with them constantly. Hence, I enjoy the support of the community. BJP candidate Avinash Jadhav is unaware of the tandas. He is yet to understand the constituency.
How will you manage original Congress leaders not happy with you bagging the party ticket?
I have not seen much disgruntlement among the local Congress leaders as I was in Congress earlier. Former MLA Kailash Patil and former minister Dr Sharanprakash Patil have resolved small differences they had with me. All local Congress leaders have joined hands to ensure my victory in the bypoll.