JOIN USAIADMK candidate, J Nanje Goudu, is banking on his Vokkaliga background to scrape through the elections. The considerable presence of Kanndigas and Telugus in Hosur and Thalli and to some extent in Vepanapapalli is something he takes great strength from.
Fifty-four-year-old Goudu contested as an independent for Assembly elections in Thally in 1984 and lost. He also lost to his present DMK opponent Sugavanam during the previous Lok Sabha polls. He obviously believes failure is a stepping stone to success. In an interview with S Lalitha, Goudu assures to do all that his winning opponent promised in the previous election ‘but failed to do’.
The generally prevalent view is that the DMK has carried out welfare measures in the State and it is safe to back them. What is your assessment of the scene?
I am 100 per cent confident that I will win this time. DMK candidate Sugavanam promised big but failed to deliver even on a single front. The promise of a railway line between Hosur and Jolarpet, reopening of closed industries in Hosur and Krishnagiri, jobs for unemployed youth, they remained just promises. They are much needed welfare measures and I am going to implement them all when I get elected.
You lost by a huge margin last time. What are the grounds for such optimism?
I am a Kannadiga and I studied in Telugu medium throughout. These communities constitute 40 per cent of the population in three constituencies and their votes are assured for me. DMK indulged in large-scale rigging in Hosur last time and so they won. This time they will not succeed.