I’m seeking votes based on works by Modi, me: Mohan

Seeking re-election for the third time, Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan of the BJP is confident that the people of the constituency will repose their faith in him once again. Speaking to DH’s Akram Mohammed, Mohan feels that the Modi factor coupled with works undertaken by him will see him through in the election. Excerpts:

The suburban railway has been your pet project. However, the state government has blamed the central government for implementation delays.

The suburban rail project was not in demand earlier. But as traffic congestion grew in cities around the country, the demand for suburban rail has increased.

As a result of this, a pan-India policy was formulated by the central government in which 60% of the project is funded through bank loans and 20% each by the central government and the state government concerned. But the state government was not happy with the proposal and demanded 50% of the project cost from the Centre.

Though the central government agreed to this demand, the state government imposed other conditions. It is as if the state is not interested in implementing the suburban rail project.

You have accused the state government of implementing white-topping and other projects to fund the elections. Why?

All the projects of the previous government and the current Congress-JD(S) coalition government are designed to benefit the contractors.

These people are reminded of the steel bridge project only when elections are around. White-topping too is similar.

While we need Rs 30-40 lakh per kilometre to construct good roads in the city, the state government is digging up good roads and white-topping them at a cost of Rs 12 cr per kilometre.

Do we have the money to build roads at such exorbitant cost?

Why hasn’t the BJP opposed such projects. Even Bangalore North MP D V Sadananda Gowda had batted in favour of the steel bridge?

It is not true that the BJP hasn’t opposed these projects. The state government and the BBMP are thick-skinned, but such projects have been opposed by the citizens’ groups, Rajya Sabha members Rajeev Chandrashekar, MLAs of Bangalore Central and me. The steel bridge project was stalled due as a result of these movements.

Some BJP MPs have been accused of not working for their constituencies in the past five years and are now seeking votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What do you make of it?

I have been seeking votes from people based on the developmental activities taken up by me and the schemes introduced by the Modi government. I am not aware of how other MPs are campaigning.

The Congress party has accused you of entering into an agreement with independent candidate from the constituency Prakash Raj. What do you have to say?

I have responded to all the problems of the people in the constituency without discriminating. This will ensure my victory. I don’t need any secret arrangement with anyone to win the elections.