On his maiden tour of Bangalore, campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal was given a warm reception by the Karnataka cadre of the party.
Immersed in electioneering, Kejriwal took some time off during a pit stop to speak to Sandeep Moudgal of Deccan Herald about his perception on the AAP’s chances in the parliamentary polls, B S Yeddyurappa and the possibility of pitting himself against the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Varanasi.
DH: Can AAP connect with South India as it has with citizens in the northern part of the country?
AK: Truth and honesty have no boundaries. It does not matter which part of the country you are from, when it comes to such issues.
How many seats do you expect to win nationwide? Do you expect a victory in Bangalore?
(Smiling) We expect to win not less than 100 seats nationwide. Hope to sweep all the three seats in Bangalore.
Your take on Yeddyurappa who had to bow out of office due to corruption charges and then re-entered the BJP...
The entire nation has only one opinion about Yeddyurappa. He is the reason for the loot of wealth in Karnataka by way of mining. I was wondering the other day, God forbid, if Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister, then Amit Shah will be the Home minister and Yeddyurappa the Mines minister. Unimaginable.
If AAP comes back to power in Delhi Assembly elections, will you then take up the reins of the government?
The position of the chief minister is not mine. Let the elections be done with and I will tell you.
On him likely to contest in Varanasi against Narendra Modi?
Modi himself is the candidate in waiting for a ticket from Varanasi. Let them announce their decision and I will tell mine.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks