Herald: Why are you cosying up to the BJP? Will you join the party?
Chandrakant Kavlekar: I’ll be honest with you. I share an excellent rapport with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. I also attacked them vehemently and was against the DefExpo from taking place in Betul which lies in my constituency. I was not opposed to the Expo, but because I wanted clarity on whether that land has been usurped and given to the Defence Ministry or not. And following my protest, the locals realised my intention and they (locals) took up the cudgels to get a clear picture from the government. I may have differences with this government and they make have made accusations against me in GSIDC matters, but I don’t let these things bog me down. About joining the BJP, let me make it clear, it is NO. I have an identity as a Congress leader and even Sonia Gandhi is aware of this. She even came to my place.
Herald: Your relationship is turbulent with Luizinho Faleiro. Why?
Kavlekar: Not really turbulent. I have great regards for Luizinho Faleiro and we’ve worked together for years. He has a task cutout to unite all the disgruntled party leaders and revive the party and let that be his focus. I will work with him to revive the Congress party and deliver results in 2017.
Herald: Do you have faith that the Congress party can revive itself?
Kavelkar: All Congress leaders and workers right from the grassroots level need to forget their ego and work for the party whole-heartedly and the aim should be to focus on winning 21 seats for the Congress. We have the capacity to achieve this if we unite our energies but the infighting and personal gains are destroying the party’s future. Babu’s message to Congress leaders is very simple; focus on the overall result and not on individual gains.
Herald: Do you want your wife to contest from Sanguem constituency?
Kavlekar: Savitri is very active in Sanguem. It’s a constituency that’s 20 minutes from my Quepem constituency and we live in the vicinity. The women and children share a great rapport with her and she’s been doing a lot of work in Sanguem. So, the people of Sanguem want her to contest. Actually, I won’t lobby for her ticket. I leave it to the people of Sanguem to ensure that she gets a Congress ticket. I have clearly told the party, give tickets based on the ground reality without lobbying.
Herald: Babu Kavlekar has demanded Luizinho to give him five seats?
Kavelkar: I have said that across Curchorem, Sanguem, Canacona and Sanvordem, let the party decide on tickets and I will then ensure that the ones who don’t get tickets will not rebel and contest to split votes. I will then campaign in these constituencies and work for the party, that’s my pledge but I’m not lobbying for any particular candidate though I did request a ticket for my wife from Sanguem.
Herald: Do you have some scores to settle with Subhash Faldessai?
Kavlekar: Subhash is from Quepem and controls the local bank. He has troubled me and my supporters a lot and does interfere in my working with his goonda mechanism. But I have no personal enmity with him or any rival candidates or MLAs. I’m not a petty man to fight and interfere with others. I go on an onslaught during polls but post polls, I move on and embrace all kinds of people. So, about getting Savitri to contest Sanguem is not a Babu v/s Subhash battle but getting Sanguem voters a better MLA should be the aim.
Herald: What are the chances of Babu Kavlekar losing a 4th term on an anti-incumbency wave in Quepem?
Kavlekar: As Zilla Panchayat member representing Quepem for five years and then a 3-time MLA, so technically Babu has already won four elections and had four terms. I’m not deterred by AAP or BJP or anybody. Babu Kavlekar doesn’t host blood donation camps and deliver free spectacles six months before elections. Be it a death or birth in the constituency or a function in the smallest or biggest of homes, Babu is there amongst his people every single day in the constituency. Working just before elections, filling scheme forms now, doesn’t get voters. Last year, my voters wanted Babu to get a 5,000 plus lead despite the anti-Congress wave and we achieved a 7,000 plus win. This year, their target is 10,000. Babu will sweep the coming polls and will win for sure.
