Perhaps, people want change every five years.

Sometimes, the reforms you initiate have a long gestation period before the idea sinks in the minds of the people.

My scheme, which is one on which I spent so much time and got it through -- the mid-day meal. Which right away, in one stroke of a decision by the government, provided meals to 65 lakh children going to government schools. a. The attendance got better b. the drop-out ratio considerably declined.

But for this to percolate into the minds of the people, it takes time. There were various initiatives taken by me, which were welcomed by the people. Yashaswani, the scheme for farmers. You become a member of a cooperative society formed under the Yashaswani programme by paying Rs 5 every month and the family is covered by health insurance.

During my tours in the state, at some places, somebody at a public meeting would come forward and say, 'My son had a heart problem, I became a member of Yashaswani. I was taken to Bangalore to Dr Devi Shetty's (Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder-director, Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital on the outskirts of Bangalore) hospital. Now my son has been cured.' So, when you hear of such things and when you see that…it's a gain.

Health insurance is one of the most neglected aspects of India's polity. I wanted to take health insurance to farmers. The delay in getting a reform registered under our democratic set-up takes time. Perhaps people may regret what they did.

We keep hearing the Indian voter is very wise. Is it a misrepresentation?

Aren't we contradicting ourselves? Indian people are wise. Well, if Mr Lalu Prasad gets repeatedly elected, we have to accept that wisdom of the people.

Yes, the people are ultimately right. They are never wrong in a democracy. You reconcile to that.

Raj Bhavan is considered the last refuge of a retiring politician. Would you think of yourself as a retiring politician?

No. I don't think is a very valid assessment. Yes, there are men who have retired from active political life after gubernatorial assignments. But there are people who have gone back to politics, active politics.

We are sure you would too…

I don't know. All I know is I have got a chance to understand the state of Maharashtra -- its problems, its advantages. I meet with a cross-section of people, which is in itself the path of education which politicians need.

I am slotting tours of Marathwada and Vidarbha. Traditionally, these are most backward areas. The governor of Maharashtra has a special responsibility to oversee the distribution of funds. I will have to study that.

Also see: 'We need to rejuvenate our democratic process'

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