Ramalinga Reddy, MLA, BTM

"People reward performers"

You are a 5-time MLA from Bangalore, which is a very rare achievement for a Congress leader. According to you, what is it that people like in you the most, that they have been voting you all these years?
RR: People gauge a candidate mostly based on his track record, and I think it's my performance as an MLA from Jayanagar assembly constituency that has impressed the people to back me for the past five years in assembly elections. Even before that, I was elected as a corporator for five years. In my tenure, I developed Jayanagar as one of the most well developed constituency in the whole of south India.
•A lot of people are concerned about the new "Reddy factor" in Karnataka politics. As a person belonging to the same community, what is your opinion about this?
RR: It is mainly because of the controversy raked by BJP's Janardhan Reddy. Also, a number of new constituencies were created in this elections following the delimitation of assembly seats, which necessitated more number of new candidates. In any case why should the increase in any single community be a cause for concern, as long as the candidates in question produce results? There are other strong communities well entrenched in politics like the Vokkaligas and the Lingayats. The Reddy factor is only a recent phenomenon in Karnataka and as I said, the ultimate bottom line is: do the candidates take good care of their constituencies or not?
•Tell us about what you have done so far to improve your constituency. Have you fulfilled any of the promises you have made to the people?
RR: BTM Layout is a newly created constituency consisting of many backward wards that were originally a part of Uttarahally. The roads in areas surrounding Koramangala, Madivala and Ejipura were in a very bad condition a year back. But after I took over the constituency, new roads were laid in and around Koramangala, Jakkasandra, HSR layout, Police Quarters, Teachers Colony, and the road near St John's Hospital widened. Streetlights have been installed almost all over the constituency. New water and sanitary lines were laid in Venkatapura, Jakkasandra, drainage pipes replaced in NGV Club, AK Colony, which I was told had not been done for the past four decades! I am waiting for the sanction of MLA funds for construction of community halls in Koramangala, KSRP, Lakkasandra and Madiwala.
The foundation stones for several development works in and around BTM layout have been laid for asphalting of roads, construction of footpaths on either side of the roads form Jayadeva Hospital till the Central Silk Board flyover, and other civic works.
An amount of Rs 4.5 cr has been sanctioned for drainage and street lights in the budget, out of Rs 2.5 crore has been allotted for Koramangala and Ejipura. Tenders have been called for construction of an underpass near 16th Main near Udupi Gardens. Overall, Rs 40 cr has been sanctioned for various developmental works. In all, I have fulfilled almost 50% of the promises I made and I will fulfill the rest by next March.
•What is the single biggest problem that the people of your constituency are facing? And how do you propose to solve that?
RR: It is difficult to single down any one problem, as there are so many competing problems! BTM is a constituency which is only 30% developed. One of the most visible problems the people are facing is that of traffic. We need a Passover near the Forum Mall, in addition to one each at 80 Feet Road and 100 Feet Road in Koramangala, two loop system near Silk Board Flyover to ease the traffic flow for people who are coming from BTM toward Silk Board. Secondly, the garbage collection needs to be improved to a large extent. The playground near Udupi Garden should be converted into a floodlit ground with an indoor stadium and another one near Koramangala, a swimming pool in BTM and Koramangala, and a restoration of all the abandoned parks. I had taken up similar ventures in my erstwhile Jayanagar constituency successfully and so I know that I can deliver on these promises.
•You have generally had a good relationship with leaders and corporators from other parties, something that is unusual. How did you explain this?
RR: I always believe that we are competitors only till the election results are announced. Once the results are out, we are all together, working for the development of our wards, constituencies and the welfare of the people. Moreover, nobody is permanent in any party, position and even when it comes to life!
•Under your leadership as the city Congress president, the party made remarkable progress in the Corporation elections. But now the BJP has made rapid inroads into the city. Where did your party fail, and what did the BJP do right for this to happen?
RR: When I was the city Congress president, we did remarkably well winning 57 seats in the Bangalore City Corporation. This was possible because we chose the right candidate on the basis of his/her winnability. But in the assembly elections, we have to admit in hindsight that the High Command failed to choose the right candidate and gave the tickets to people with dubious or little capacity. We did not also succeed in putting up an united front, we did not project a CM candidate. As far as the BJP is concerned, they won purely because of the sympathy factor after Kumaraswamy went back on his promise to transfer power to them.
• People of your constituency say that you are among the very few politicians who attends family functions of ordinary citizens like Grihapravesham, etc. Is it really true? And when was the last function you visited?
RR: It is true. In fact, there are many days when I attend three functions a day! For me, the voters of my constituency are like an extended family. Of course, this also helps in keeping in touch with their problems and aspirations, and striking up a good relationship with them.
•But some people say that after the change of constituency, it is not as easy to meet you.
RR: Absolutely not! In fact, I get more visitors now that when I was taking care of Jayanagar, as there were fewer grievances there compared to my present constituency. I am available to the public every day from 8.30 am to 10 am and in the evening between 3 to 4 pm.
•As a senior Congress leader, what do you feel the party should do to regain power in Karnataka?
RR; Presenting a unified face is very important to win the confidence of the people. We should not lose faith and work sincerely to deliver on our assurances and promises. The people of Karnataka are also concerned about the status of minorities in their state under this government. The Congress has always been a secular party, which treats all religions equally. The opposition cashed in on this and deliberately tried to create a misunderstanding about it among the people.

•Your assessment of the BJP government in Karnataka.
RR: The Ministers have no administrative experience and capability, the bureaucracy under them have become inefficient, the department heads are not chosen on the basis of their competence, and the transfers of officials has become a major scam due to this. Anyway, we leave it to the people to assess this government. If the BJP rules for its full quota of five years, then it will only be a long-run failure!
•The JD(S) rally a few days ago inconvenienced thousands of people. Don't you think the political parties should come to a consensus and decide to hold rallies henceforth without causing public inconvenience?
RR: All parties are guilty on this count and I feel we should start exploring the possibility of organizing such rallies in the outskirts of the city. Also, the JD(S) did not plan the rally in advance, which also contributed to the traffic mess. When Sonia Gandhi addressed a meeting in Bangalore, there was much larger crowds, but it did not cause so much inconvenience to the people.
Know Your MLA

Earlier, Sri Narendra Kumar welcomed the participants, and Sri Prasanna Kumar delivered the vote of thanks.

Ramalinga Reddy, BTM Layout:
•Inspiration: Late Prime Minister Mrs.Indira Gandhi and late Chief Minister Sri Devaraj Urs.
• Entered politics during his student days; Was elected as Cultural Secretary of Government Science College and as Member, Student Council of B’lore University in 73-74 and 77-78, president of BU Law College Students Assn (1978), became president of Jayanagar Block Congress in 1985, KPCC Member (1990), Member of BMP (83-88), Bangalore city unit president (98-2008), 4-time consecutive MLA from Jayanagar assembly constituency (1989, 1994, 1999, 2004); Minister of Finance, Large and Medium Scale Industry and State Minister Agriculture Market (1992-94) under the Veerappa Moily government; Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Minister of Bangalore Development under the S.M. Krishna government (2002-04);
•Major achievements: Distributed BPL ration cards for urban poor in Karnataka, closed the running of unauthorized schools existing from decades as Education Minister, distributed uniforms and text books for students, extended mid-day meals to students of 6th and 7th Standard, prohibited children from participating in public functions, sanctioned Primary School, High School and Pre-University colleges to resolve regional unbalance, recruited 15,667 school teachers for the year 2004-05 and 2005-06, constructed 20,000 class rooms, started 200 Libraries and 600 Reading rooms at Literacy centers in Bangalore, introduced new rules and regulations for selecting books for public libraries and to start new libraries.
•On Reddy’s radar are Koramangala, BTM Layout, Madiwala, Ejipura and Lakkasandra wards.
His Plan BTM includes the following: Swimming pool, public library, indoor stadium and play ground, development and upgradation of all underdeveloped parks, upgrading the existing Government Hospital in NS Palya, underpass at 16th Main junction, and remodeling of the bus stand. 
Plan Koramangal/Ejipura: Development of all undeveloped parks, under pass at the water tank junction in Koramangala, tar roads in Koramangala village, 1st Block to 8th Block Koramangala, Audugodi, Ejipura, Srinivasagilu, NG Village, Rajendra Nagar ST bed and surrounding areas, Kattalipalya, Mestripalaya and Balappa layout, resolving the water problem in Koramangala village, 1st Block to 8th Block Koramangala, Adugodi, Ejipura, Srinivasagilu, NG Village, Rajendra Nagar, ST bed and surroundings areas, Kattalipalya, Mestripalaya and Balappa layout.