Irrespective of their voting preferences, every random Nagercoil-Kanyakumari resident mid-day spoke with has only good things to say about BJP candidate Pon Radhakrishnan. They are also happy with the work he does for the region, both during his two terms as MP and even when he is out of power. Taking time off from the tough task of making the PM’s public rally later on Monday evening, Ponnar, as he is fondly called, sat down with mid-day for an interview during the early hours of Monday at his Nagercoil office.

Have you analysed the reasons behind your 2019 defeat?
Yes. The opposition alliance was able to spread the sense and convince the voters here that Modi-ji was not going to get a second term nationally, and that Rahul Gandhi will become the next PM. They convincingly sold this lie.