Haribabu gives Vizagites a wake-up call

SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 4, 2014: BJP AP unit chief, Kambhampati Haribabu, is contesting for the Vizag Lok Sabha seat and is set to face a political heavy weight, YSRC honorary president, YS Vijayalakshmi. TD spared Vizag Lok Sabha seat to BJP as part of the poll alliance between both the parties.

During an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Hari Babu sends the message: ‘Wake up Vizag’ and vote for an educated local candidate who will be accessible to Vizagites round the clock. He adds that the Vizag public is afraid that the peaceful atmosphere of the city would be disturbed if leaders with factional politics background are elected, thereby hampering the growth. 

Excerpts:

 You are pitted against a political heavyweight, YSRC chief, YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s mother, YS Vijayalakshmi. What are your prospects against her and what is your confidence?

In my view, if public opinion is in favour of a person, there can be no role of political heavy weights. It has been proved many times earlier. During the Emergency, strong leader like Indira Gandhi had to face the public anger and lost poll in UP in 1977. In 1989, charismatic leader like NTR lost poll in Kalvakurthy and in the last elections, Chiranjeevi, having such a mass appeal lost in Palakollu. Therefore it was time and again proved that political heavyweights don’t matter.

How can you say that public opinion is in your favour?

During my campaigning all these days I felt that the public was looking for a local leader accessible to them at all times and who can aptly represent their issues in Delhi. They are also of the opinion that, BJP led NDA is going to form government under the leadership of Narendra Modi and a BJP MP from here can do justice by acting as a bridge between Vizag and the union government.

BJP candidates across the country including you are heavily banking on perceived Modi wave but your opponents are rubbishing it as just the creation by a section of media? What’s your view about it?

The entire nation is looking for a corrupt free government. Youngsters are looking for a stable government and decisive leadership. And Modi is the only ray of hope.

You are using ‘Wake up Vizag’ and ‘being local’ as your poll plank in your campaigning. Does the local factor really have an impact in these polls?

 Vizagites had this bitter experience due to electing outsiders and non local in the last two elections. They are vexed up with these leaders and there is a dire need of a local candidate with global vision. Vizag is the only big and important city in the divided Andhra Pradesh and a local leader who can understand local issues is the need of the hour. That’s why am saying ‘Wake up Vizag’ and vote accordingly.

You are very often asking voters in your election speeches not to elect those leaders who can disturb tranquility of the city? What is that about?

Vizag is a calm and quiet city. Vizagites are peace loving people. There is a general perception and people are actually afraid that leaders hailing from those places infamous for faction politics will disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the city thereby hampering the growth. Here leaders cutting across the party lines come onto a common platform, on certain issues related to Vizag development. We don’t have any personal animosity among ourselves or nurture grudge against each other. People are afraid that would change if such leaders are elected 

 What are your plans for Vizag?

 In undivided Andhra Pradesh, people were looking at Hyderabad, for education, business, jobs etc. I wish to make everyone looks at Vizag for opportunities in the coming days in the new state. With the help of the Centre, we can make Vizag a tourist destination. I will personally go and persuade big players in IT sector to set up their operations here. My goal is to achieve at least Rs 10,000 cr worth IT exports in the next 3 years from Vizag. I will also ask bigwigs of film industry to come to Vizag to set up studios and other facilities, which would also provide jobs to locals.