Interview: Had no choice but to contest from BJP; decision was made for me, says Dr CN Manjunath

So, post-retirement, there were a lot of felicitations across the state, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburgi, etc. And there were a lot of invitations to felicitate me from other segments of our state. So, during these felicitation functions, people started saying, ‘See Dr Manjuanth, you have brought revolutionary changes, you have brought in reforms and you have transformed a government institution into an Institute of Excellence and a world-class facility with affordable cardiac care to society. And you are not only a good cardiologist, you are also a very good administrator and it is difficult to find two things in one person.

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So, your services, your contribution should not be limited to this state and you should go beyond.’ And that’s what they started discussing and coincidentally the Lok Sabha elections were notified.

People started saying ‘It’s better if you contest Lok Sabha, you might get a better opportunity to serve the nation on a bigger platform. And whatever reforms you have brought in here is not an easy thing to bring changes in the public health care system’. So, my name cropped up and ultimately, it was a tough call for me because I was fully committed to the profession.

As far as service is concerned, it is the same. Even my medical profession is also a service. And  I want to consider this political scenario, the political platform also as a service sector. So that is what I aspire to be and then the high command of BJP has impressed upon the high command of JD(S). So it is better that Dr Manjunath contest for this parliamentary election.

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Q. Now you’ve spent a long time as a medical practitioner. How does it feel to be out with people in general when compared to seeing your patients on a daily basis?

A. Yeah, even when as a cardiologist and a director, I was well-connected with the people. In fact, I can say during my tenure, I must have come in contact with two crore people. Yeah, two crore people. So, it’s nothing new because I was never glued to my seat in my chamber. I used to walk around 10,000 steps and 5000 steps in the hospital itself. That itself I mean, exemplifies that I was moving around the hospital. And also, I never kept myself aloof from my colleagues or people. My door was always open to the common man. Anybody could come and meet me.

So now, the platform is different. That was a medical professional platform. This is a political platform. So here, of course, contesting the election is a challenge and I am not alone in fighting this election. Both JD(S) and BJP are in alliance in this state. So, they have strong cadre. The JD(S) has a strong cadre in the rural segment of this constituency. And BJP has a strong base in the urban component of this constituency.

PM Modi’s charisma is really a great factor and also there is a strong desire and feeling going on across the country that Narendra Modi should become Prime Minister for the third time in a row. Former PM HD Deve Gowda, former CM HD Kumaraswamy, and former CM BS Yediyurappa, all have done a good job; particularly the former prime minister’s impact is considerable in the rural segment of this constituency. So is the case with Kumaraswamy. All these are helping me to achieve my goal.

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Q. What is your poll pitch?

A. Primarily, infrastructure issues. The water crisis is a big thing in this area. So, we have to see how best we can utilise the resources, natural water resources for the benefit of people.

Another is sericulture, an important profession in this area. We have to really strengthen sericulture, we have to see how best we can help the sericulture farmers and also, we need to create a better market and we can, whether we can modernise the whole thing and make it globally competitive. We have to strengthen the schools, colleges and the hospitals with better facilities and management also.

It’s not just facilities. You have to see they are best managed because grants are important, I agree, grants alone will not deliver goods. You have to see there has to be a proper management of these educational institutions. So also, hospitals, another important area.

We have to develop some job-oriented skill training centres where rural youth can be empowered and also women. We are also thinking of opening some training centres for competitive examinations.

Q. The Congress is well-entrenched in this constituency. What is your plan of action to break into this citadel?

A. It is always reaching out to the people. I have a proven track record of great performance and turning around government facilities. So, when you have that sort of a track record, you have that sort of a commitment.

All these things can come only through hard work, commitment and dedication. So, the same thing will be passed down to this profession. Ultimately, when you have concern for the people, things will always work.

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Q. Was this the constituency that you wanted to contest from for your first electoral battle or did you have any other in mind?

A. First of all, it was a bolt from the blue. So, contesting this election is a bolt-from-the-blue decision. So, it is the high commands of the BJP and JD(S) that have decided that I should contest from BJP. I had no choice.

Q. As a doctor, you have treated so many people. Can the gratitude, love and affection from all those people actually translate into votes for you?

A. The gratitude factor is a contributing factor to my goal, whatever I am. If you go to any village in this state, at least 10 to 20 people have been treated by us. They have received good treatment. And the gratitude is unbelievable, the way they are showing up and the way they are touching my feet, the way they are expressing openly saying doctor, you don’t worry, we are always with you. And they have become volunteers actually.

Unbelievable gratitude because I have coined three terms and literally practice these things: Treatment first, payment next and life is more important than the file. Third is humanity. We have treated 75 lakh outpatients and conducted 8 lakh procedures, both invasive and non-invasive, and some interventional procedures. And during this period, I have never sent a patient back without providing treatment for the want of money.

So, one is your technology, your skill. But most important is that we have brought smiles to the faces of these poor and needy people. So that is the one thing, otherwise, I would not have been different from other doctors.