As the Bengaluru District Congress Committee gears up for a mega convention on Thursday, the party’s new district president and three-time legislator from Gandhinagar assembly constituency, Mr Dinesh Gundu Rao, asserts that the party will adopt a multi-pronged strategy to win over the hearts of the Bengalureans.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Rao said, “Bengaluru, like any other major city, has two segments of voters. One is the labour class which is the largest segment and mostly live in slums and the other the white-collared professionals whom we have to tap. Besides, we will start taking the ruling party head-on in forthcoming BBMP council meetings”.

He said he had already come up with ideas to attract these segments. In the first phase, the city unit will organise protests against government and BBMP over providing shelter, non-issuance of BPL cards and drinking water shortage in slums. The Congress will also organise seminars and debates on various issues like city’s traffic or infrastructure woes to attract young professionals, who will not only help the party to carry the message across but also help the party in coming out with better policies. He also said he was not averse to associating with residents’ welfare associations on issues like pollution and sanitation. Excerpts from an interview:

Q: What does it really mean to be the president of the Bengaluru City District Congress president?
Rao: It is a huge responsibility. I know that my performance will either make or break my future. This is a politically significant post. Responsibility means handling people with care as so many leaders are residing in the city. I am confident that I will take everyone into confidence, win them over and wrest as many as seats for the party in the coming Assembly elections. My seven-year stint as KPYCC president should help in this effort.

Q: What are your immediate plans as DCC president?
Rao: I plan to launch a series of agitations along with my counterpart, S. T. Somashekhar on issues relating to the city as well as rural areas. Besides this, as an individual unit too, we will hold demonstrations against failures of the State government and launch awareness programmes about the UPA’s flagship programmes to educate slum voters in the city.

Q: Internal bickering has not spared even the city unit. How will you tackle this problem?
Rao: Yes, it is a problem. First, I will convene a block presidents’ meetings to discuss problems at the grassroots level and hammer out solutions. We are yet to form ward-level committees. This exercise will be taken up only after discussing with every leader who matters in the city affairs.

Q: There is a perception that urban voters generally vote for BJP. How do you plan to change this trend?
Rao: I don’t agree with you that all urban voters favour BJP. It is a wrong perception. Last time, we lost elections mainly due to some lacunae in ticket distribution or selecting candidates. I am hopeful that all leaders will extend their co-operation in selecting the right candidates this time. This time, the party central leaders are clear about wresting Karnataka. Social justice and winnablity will be important factors while issuing tickets.

Q: Who is your role model?
Rao: Obviously, it is my father Gundu Rao and my party president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Although, I have not been able to imbibe every character of my father, qualities like quick decision-making and winning people’s hearts comes from him. Our party president, Mrs Gandhi, is the epitome of sacrifice, patience, self-respect and persistence. She was the one who stood by harsh criticism to build the party from its rubble.

Q: What is that one bad quality in you that you would want to change?
Rao: It’s not one flaw, there are many flaws. I am not a very good speaker. I will be working on my oratory skills. My impatience is another area which I want to improve upon. I will be the most watched DCC chief as I will have to interact with many leaders from the state. So, I need to improve my level of patience. Lastly, I do not get time to study and need to take time out of my busy schedule for this.