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The Rediff Election Interview/ Chhotubhai Vasava

'The people are sick and tired, they may not even come out to vote...'

Chhotubhai Vasava is arguably Gujarat's most powerful tribal leader. The Janata Dal legislator put the fear of God and the voter into the BJP in February when he carved out 145,773 votes in the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, leaving MP Chandubhai Deshmukh -- who died some weeks ago, forcing a by-election -- with a microchip thin majority of 11,609 votes.

This time around, Vasava is once again in the fray, facing the BJP's Mansukhbhai Vasava and the Congress's Iqbal Kakuji.

The man who could disprove the electoral algebra in the only Lok Sabha constituency going to the polls this election discussed his prospects with Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

What do you think the outcome in Bharuch will be?

I have nothing on my mind, I think what you think….

But you have been around lots of places, have been interacting with people. What is your feedback?

I think, I should win by a comfortable margin, defeating both the Congress and the BJP.

That's strange, considering you won 145,773 votes in February this year, which put you only in third place…

Yes, but this time the people are very angry, I can sense it. They voted for Vajpayee with hope, and they are disappointed. They have tried both the Congress and BJP, and will now turn to me.

In February, the BJP gained because of the assembly and Lok Sabha elections were held at the same time.

What issues are you raising before the electorate?

Bad governance, as exemplified by spiraling prices. What better testament can there be about this government's inefficiency?

Still, elections are won not just on issues… There is also the question of mobilising voters, reaching out. I have seen the BJP war machine roll out; in comparison you are fighting with foot soldiers entirely...

But the people are there with me, they have seen through all politicians. They want results.

Bharuch is one just one seat. Assuming you win from here, do you think it will make a difference to the BJP?

if it did not, why are they taking it so seriously? You tell me that.

Ok, conceding this, what is your gameplan to win?

What can we do? We are not in power. They have everything. At this rate anything could happen.

Is that an oblique hint that violence would be unleashed to polarise voters?

Anything is possible. But the people are sick and tired, they may not even come out to vote...

The people may like you and vote for you. But then they also get your party along with you. I mean, after Karnataka, what is your party's credibility?

But every party is facing the same troubles. Look at the Congress, the BJP in Delhi... who is any better? If a patient is unwell, do you let him die in a bad hospital, or change to a better one?

Is it true the BJP and the Congress both sent feelers to you?

Yes, but I wanted no truck with them. I want the real facts to come out, the fact about non-development.

What? But Gujarat is the most developed state in the country, in terms of industrialisation…

Yes, but is industrialisation development? Do you know what the industries are doing to our land, to our water, to our air, to our children? How many Adivasis are given employment in these industries? None. Either they are not educated, or not educated enough. Then they have no merit. How can the majority be denied its rights? It is this I am fighting for.

I am glad you said that. Since every party of note has had a crack at running the federal government, it really is pointless to blame any single one, isn't it?

Not correct. The Janata Dal may not have lasted long. But I believe it did a lot of good for the under-privileged. Like Mandal, granting tribals more rights etc…

Do you think this round of elections is a referendum on the Vajpayee government?

Yes, it is. And this government will go, to be followed by another round of elections.

Assembly Election '98

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