CHANNAPATNA, 9 NOV

Dubbed as a party-hopper or “jumping star”, actor turned politician CP Yogeeshwara, has no qualms over having switched political parties to contest elections from Channapatna in Ramanagara district in the past. The present bypoll being a do-or-die battle for him, the 61-year-old veteran politician in a quick chat with Salar News said Congress is going to be the last stop in his political career.

Q: You have contested several elections from Channapatna, is this an easy or tough contest for you?

A: So far, I have contested nine elections and this is my tenth. I won five times, this is not a tough election, but not an easy one either. My opponent Nikhil Kumaraswamy hails from a dynasty represented by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. He has that legacy, which I am fighting against.

Q: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has been saying that he is the actual candidate and whoever is contesting on the Congress symbol is just his `nominee’?

A: Definitely, I am his nominee. Shivakumar’s backing has helped me in fighting this bypoll.

Q: You have been switching parties and this time you have come back from BJP to Congress…

A: The political scenario was very different from what it is now when I switched parties. Today, I am back in Congress and this is going to be my final destination. 

Q: What are you promising the constituency voters this time?

A: After this bypoll, I want to continue the pending irrigation projects, which I had taken up during my tenure. Moreover, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be announcing Rs 5 per litre as the procurement price for milk producers, shortly. As Channapatna is the highest milk-producing taluk in the State, this will be a huge boost to the milk producers here. I would like to see that implemented.