WATCH | Siddaramaiah in a candid conversation with DH

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah was in conversation with Deccan Herald earlier.As election fever heats up, count on Deccan Herald to bring you updates from the campaign trail, keen political insights and the incisive analysis that we're known for. This year, local governments and political partnerships are likely to have a major impact on the Lok Sabha elections. The drama quotient is high and DH Political Theatre will be where the action is, as always. As part of our digital coverage, we are bringing you a series of live interactions with political leaders of national and regional importance.Here's a rundown of the interaction:

WATCH: DH Exclusive | In conversation with former KN CM Siddaramaiah

I have been made as the Chairperson of the Coordination Committee of the Coalition Govt to quell small-small dissent within the govt. I have been able to quell such difference of opinion as and when such a situation arises
I am always relevant in all situations...I intervene only when there is trouble in the coalition govt.

There are too many PM candidates?

It is natural in a situation like this when there are too many regional parties.

NDA can not cross 200 seats

Whereas Congress and coalition parties will cross 150 plus seats.

We will choose leaders whose roots are strongly in Karnataka. No outsiders will be favoured.

I thank the organisers for organising this wonderful interaction.

Election Campaign plan & entry of Priyanka Gandhi

Campaign trail will be decided after the seat sharing.

There has always been a soft corner and confidence about Priyanka Gandhi.

People have been demanding that she should tour Karnataka also. We will also request the high command leaders and she is likely to tour Karnataka as well.

On Hindutava & being labelled as anti-Hindu

Is entire society is in favour of Hindutava? BJP only provokes people in the name of religion, caste. But this does not mean all will go by Hindu.

I am a hindu and I claim it. I have been arguing and I belong to Hinduism that has Hindunity. But BJP is advocating Hindutva wihout humanism.

If you look at union minister Anant Kumar Hegde, who always talks about attack, murderDo you think that is Hindutva?

Any relligion has to have a humanitarian face.

BJP's hindutva does not have humanitarian face.

Issues on which 2019 elections will fought

The issues on which we will be fighting polls in Karnataka is employment, According to a survey, the unemployment rate has gone up alarmingly. It is highest in the last 40 years.

Modi had promised to create 2 cr jobs every year. But he has failed.

They could only create 27 lakh jobs every year which is a serious concern.

The second thing is the farmer's distress. Corruption is another issue.

Issues concerning women is also point of debate during these polls.

Unlike BJP which whips sentiments of religion, Hindutva, we approach people based on genuine problems of the people.

On election spending

In today's scenario, elections are turning out to be expensive affairs. The govt must take care of the expenses.

No matter how much rules you frame, it will be difficult to control people or candidates. If you amend the people representation act, at least there will be some control.

On Rebel MLAs & Audio Tape Controversy

BSY has confessed that it was his voice and Speaker's Ramesh Kumar name has been dropped. The govt decided to constitute Special Task Force to probe into theaudio-gate controversy.Very soon I think they will constitute it.

We are confident of winning more than 20 seats together this time.

The resignation from MLAs shall be voluntary and genuine. But four MLAs have violated the Whip issued by me.

They failed to turn up for the legislative party meeting. so we have complained to the Speaker.

On dynasty politics by JDS

When people are ready to accept dynasty politics, why are you asking questions? It is people who are going to vote. When people continue to vote for such instances, we should not ask any questions.

I agree that previously there were attempts to influence on voters mind by way of money and caste. They induced Hindutva sentiment and propaganda systematically.

But we have overcome all those situations. This time all such tricks will not yield any results.

I have no intentions of contesting Lok Sabha polls even though I have such qualitiesand qualification.

My politics is confined only to Karnataka. My party leaders are also well aware of this.

On achievements of Modi Sarkar

There are absolutely no achievements by the Modi Govt. Whatever the promises he made during polls then, all of them he has failed to fulfil.

Modi is misleading the people and provoking the sentiments of the people. He is not discussing the issues concerned to the people like demonetisation, jobs, corruption.

What steps has he taken to fight corruption? He never opened up his mouth on these issues.

Modi has miserably failed.

No party shall do politics in military achievements. What happened when Indira Gandhi was the PM, We had defeated Pakistan thrice.

BJP is trying to politicise Pulwama attacks. They are trying to derive benefit out of the episode.But it is not going to yield any results.

Let's talk about women's issues, agrarian crisis, the growth of economy. He is not talking about all these. All through the four years he was silent and now coming out with policies on health and farmers

If previous PM Manmohan Singh could waive off the loan, why can't he do the same? I had previously led delegation but Modi refused to waive off the loan.

Now he is giving Rs 17 per day to a farmer under his ambitious scheme. Isit going to bring a remarkable change in the lives of the farmers? Can they sustain with that income in inflation ridden times ?

BSY has no moral responsibility to talk about Loan Waive off. The same BSY who claims to be farmers leader then in the Upper House had said we don't have note printing machines and refused to waive off loans. Today he is talking about farmers.

That is why I said BJP leaders have no moral right to speak about farmers and waiving of farm loans, says Siddaramaiah.

What was discussed at CWC meet?

3-4 points discussed at great length in CWC meeting in Ahmedabad yesterday. 1. Our manifesto2. We must expose Modi govt properly and for which all leaders must be aggressive 3. There are failures of the Modi govt and all of us need to attack that and tell people about these failures of the Modi govt 4. Achievements of the UPA govt and Congress govt in various states We also discussed how many seats we will get this time considering the nationwide scenario, says Siddaramaiah

Who is gaining politically in coalition govt? Congress or JDS?

In coalition govt, there is no question of who gains. But it would be mutually benefitting.

We score when BJP is defeated in all the seats.If we win in more than 20 seats and BJP is reduced to 5 to 6 seats, then it is a profit for us.

There have been instances of corruption within the corridors of Vidhan Soudha? What is your take on this

The instances of a few people taking a bribe in Vidhana Soudha are only allegations. Ministers have been issued summons only based on statements. That does not mean they have done mistakes.

Don't say I am 'fully' satisfied. But I can say I am satisfied with the way coalition govt is working.

The understanding between both the parties is steadily growing with every passing day and this will improve in the coming days.

Can you list out 5 achievements of Congress-JDS govt

1. All programmes of the previous govt continued

2. Loan waiver

3. Good and efficient administration

4. Govt running as per the promisses made to the people of Karnataka

On reservation for women in ticket distribution

The outcomes of the recent assembly elections haveno binding on both of us. I agree that both of us fought with each other and I lost to them in Mysuru. But it is Lok Sabha polls and we need to forgo those previous bitter incidents and collectively fight to defeat to BJP now.

Replicating West Bengal like situation in Karnataka is very difficult.

I can't say we will give 33% to women, but we will accommodate as much as possible depending on the opinion elicited by the local party workers.

Our Coalition has been strengthened and the signs of which were demonstrated during the by polls. In Bellary, we won by 2 lakh lead, in Shivamogga we ensured that BJP winning margin come down significantly.

Seat Sharing between JDS & Congress

Our President Dinesh Gundurao, DCM Parameshwara and JDS counterparts have met together and staked their claim over thenumber of seats.

We have been working on our strengths and where there is a possibility of victory, we will settle with such seats

In Mysuru case, I have only argued that Congress has a higher chance of victory and accordingly I have explained to the High Command leaders.

Let JDS convince us about their chances of victory in Mysuru and then we will take a final call. But my assessment says Congress has a better chance than JDS in Mysuru.

In two-three days a final decision on seat sharing will be taken.

Winnability is the main criteria and based on that we will decide how many seats we will be cedeing to the JDS

JDS is asking Uttara Kannada, Vijayapura, MysuruShivamogga, Chikkamagaluru-Udupi and Tumakuru have also been dmemnaded by JDS.

If they convince us about their vote bank and victory possibility, we will give them those seats.

Former PM Deve Gowda is favouring Bengaluru North,I agree that JDS has demanded Bengaluru North but
Deve Gowda has not announced that he will contest from the constituency.

If Deve Gowda reveals about his candidature, then our High Command will take a suitable decision.

Ultimately our main enemy is communal party BJP and all of us must work towards defeating BJP.

Performance of Karnataka Govt in the last 10 months

I agree there are small hiccups now and then. These are common in any coalition govt. But this can not be at a greater level. We have been going according to the Common Minimum Programme and there is no scope for dissent among anybody.

Both of us have agreed to waive off loans of farmers. so is the case with other decisions. Ultimately in the good interest of the farmers and people that we have been working.

Already we had two round of talks at the coordination level.

Siddaramaiah on Sumalatha

I have already told her that Mandya is currently with JDS as they have their MP and we have also resolved to cede it to the JDS and I have conveyed this to Sumalatha. Unnecessarily rumours have been spread at various levels.

JDS has also been active in state politics for several decades and accordingly, they have demanding seats. All this will be discussed at the highest level and it will be resolved.

JDS has also decided to fight against communal forces. So is our stand and together we are fighting against such forces. It is inevitable in the present scenario as well.

They too had previously done government BJP and they have realised it and exuded support to fight the communal forces .

Cong and JDS are political betenoirs but in a situation like Lok Sabha how will take both the parties together?

I agree completely. But we are committed to taking everybody together and nothing will happen.

Wouldn't this pact actually benefit BJP?

Previously too we had alliance during by-polls and no major damage happened. I agree that only a fewvotes may go theother way. But loyal workers will remain with the party.

Mandya we have ceded to the JDS and Congress workers have accepted it.

Deadlock over Seat Sharing for Lok Sabha Elections 2019

The discussion is going on between both the parties. There is no deadlock as such and it will be resolved amicably.

Welcome to all for the fourth round of DH-PV Political Theatre

Watch | Siddaramaiah in a candid conversation with DH

Siddaramaiah interacts with DH at 5 pm today

Rise and fall of Siddaramaiah

Siddaramaiah is among the strongest Congress leaders in Karnataka. After a full term as Karnataka Chief Minister between 2013 and 2018, he is now the chairman of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coordination committee.

Born in an agricultural family belonging to the Kuruba community in the state’s Varuna Hobli in Mysore on August 12, 1948, Siddaramaiah had no formal schooling till class nine. Later, he earned B.Sc and Law degrees from the Mysore University.

Siddaramaiah started his career as a junior lawyer and law lecturer in Mysore. He was invited to politics by Nanjuda Swamy, a lawyer in Mysore, and elected to a local admistrative body in Mysore.

In 1983, Siddaramaiah registered a surprise victory from the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency as a candidate of the Bharatiya Lok Dal party. Later, he joined the ruling Janata Party and was re-elected in the 1985 mid-term polls from the same seat. Then he entered into the cabinet as a minister for animal husbandry and veterinary services. He also held various portfolios.

His winning streak was broken in the 1989 Assembly elections. He was defeated by senior Congress leader, M Rajasekara Murthy. Siddaramaiah became the secretary general of the Janata Dal in 1992. He won the 1994 Assembly polls to become finance minister in Deve Gowda government. After Gowdabecame the prime minister of India, Siddaramaiah was appointed as the deputy chief minister under JH Patel.

Siddaramaiah stood with Deve Gowda's JD(S) following a split in Janata Dal and became the state unit president. In the coalition government headed by Congress' Dharam Singh, Siddaramaiah was again appointed as the deputy chief minister in 2004.

Following differences with Deve Gowda, Siddaramaiaha was expelled from the JD(S). Subsequently, Siddaramaiah and others joined the Congress. His rise in the Congress was meteoric. Following the party’s victory in the 2013 Assembly polls, Siddaramaiah was named chief minister. He is the first chief minister in the state to have completed a 5-year term in the office after a gap of 40 years.