Chikmagalur MLA C.T. Ravi hit the limelight during the Datta Peetha controversy. One of the products of the Hindutva movement, Ravi has come a long way since then and is now leading a group of BJP MLAs who are campaigning for cabinet expansion. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Ravi spoke about the BJP, the internal tussle between top leaders and the Congress party's strength and weakness.

You are from Chikmagalur. What went wrong with your election strategy in the Udupi-Chikmagalur bypoll?
To begin with, the Congress candidate enjoyed sympathy. The monumental error we made was we felt we would benefit if the Janata Dal (S) fielded a candidate. It worked the other way, the JD(S) did not snatch the Congress vote. The traditional voters of our party did not turn up for voting. You know, we polled merely 20 votes less in every booth compared to the last election. In a parliament election, it made a lot of difference. For the first time, Congress leaders came together. Our bad luck was that infighting in the BJP had peaked around the same time.

If the Udupi-Chikmagalur by-poll is a trendsetter, the BJP’s chances of coming back to power might be difficult in the next elections?
No by-poll can be considered as a trend for a general election ahead. In the by-poll, all parties make a concerted effort and put up a united fight. In general elections, all constituencies will witness a triangular fight. A lot of other factors like money, strength of rival party candidates, rebels play a major role. If we manage to make development a poll plank, we will have an edge over rivals.

How many of your party MLAs are confident of facing elections. Have they really done work in their constituencies?
Almost all the legislators have done work in their constituencies. We are not afraid on this count. If our work is to be a criterion, then we would do far better in the elections.

Of late, like leaders from other parties, your party leaders too are holding caste based conventions. Do you justify these in the wake of the severe drought in the state?
Ethically speaking, it is wrong. You are talking about upholding values and practicing value-based politics. See what happens during an election year. A leader may try to exploit everything, be it water scarcity in a colony, a personal fight between two individuals. I think holding caste rallies and conventions is part of that trend. Caste is like fertilizer. But it can’t be the seed. Caste can be a factor which may help you win elections. If caste alone were to be the criterion, late Devaraj Urs would not have emerged as a top leader in Karnataka. If you study history closely, caste has never played the dominant role.

Coming back to the main issue, you have launched a campaign for cabinet expansion. Is it an anti-party activity or one for strengthening the party?
It is not anti-party. No one can doubt our commitment. We can never think of betraying the party. Our fight is not to get cabinet berths. The districts which have no representation should be given their due, similarly the party should focus on balancing social justice. We got the signatures of 74 MLAs. You see the irony, the eagerness to make rival party MLAs resign, induct them into the party to make them ministers was not extended to our party legislators. It was unfortunate.

It was former chief minister, B. S. Yeddyurappa who brought people from outside and ignored your party MLAs. Have you ever discussed this issue with him?
Yes. I told him this during a personal meeting. Nothing happened.

Many MLAs signed both petitions, seeking cabinet expansion and urging the chief minister to convene the legislature party meeting. Isn’t it opportunistic politics?
No. There is no contradiction. If you want a legislature party meeting to discuss purely matters concerning the party, the demand is justified. If you want to target a person in the legislature party meeting, that is not the forum to discuss this. Similarly, since our campaign is not against the party many have signed up.

The allegation is that at the behest of Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and party state unit president, K.S. Eshwarappa, you have been carrying out this campaign.
Unless my conscience permits, I will not do any work and I am the last person to be a puppet. People may say many things. But they are not true.

The BJP seems to be rattled over AICC president, Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Siddaganga math, Tumkur. What will the party do to woo Lingayats.
We are not worried about her visit. The math is free to invite anyone. Politically speaking, do you think, Mrs Gandhi’s visit will help the Congress get Lingayat votes?