By PK Surendran. Bangalore
When HT Sangliana brought to the knees old Congress warhorse CK Jaffer Sharief in 2004, he was hailed a "giant killer." Today Sangliana is fighting the same Sharief — this time for a Congress ticket. He told DNA on Tuesday that AICC chief Sonia Gandhi knows the sacrifice he made by voting for the UPA government in the no-confidence motion in July last against his party diktat.
He hates to think of an alternative to Bangalore Central now. "I will get the ticket for Bangalore Central," he asserted.
On leaving the seat to Sharief, he said: "The whole of Karnataka knows me and my work. No other MP, I challenge, has achieved as much for the constituency as I did.
Whether it's the Bagalur Road and drinking water projects or medical treatment to the poor, I spent the maximum from the MP's fund.
I know the people here and I have worked here, then why should I go away? I can tell you, Muslim voters trust me more than they trust one among their own."
Asked whether he was keen on Bangalore Central because minority votes were decisive in the constituency, the former supercop said: "Not quite. But, to an extent yes, because the two minority communities — Christians and Muslims — have an implicit faith in me."
Sangliana said he was confident of doing an encore in this elections too. "Of the 21 lakh voters, I will net at least 60% of the votes polled. I will try my best to solve the perennial power and drinking water shortage of the core city."
