The Rediff Election Interview/ Narendra Modi
'If Digvijay Singh works as a model for Colgate, he'll be their best model'
If you say though his PR is so good yet the Congress will lose, that would mean the BJP's PR must even be better than the Congress because you are predicting that you are going to win?
The BJP is fighting elections on issues. We have had a performance in the House. While this government only makes announcements and doesn't work on them.
How much of an issue is the onion and price factor?
The more the Congress raises the price rise issue, the more will it harm the Congress. When India became independent, vegetables were sold at 25 paise for 40 kgs, wheat -- Rs 2 for 40 kgs, rice -- Rs 1.50 for 40 kgs and ghee -- Rs 5 for 40 kgs. The Congress ruled for 45 years, we've only been there for 250 days, so who's responsible? The Congress and only the Congress.
But public memory is short, what happened over all these years is not as important as the present. A person who was buying onions at Rs 50 per kg is surely angry?
They may blame anyone, but has it become an issue here? No, I don't think so. We are explaining to the people how the Congress has been responsible for this. As far as onions go, we give the salt example. How an artificial scarcity was created as a ploy to win the election. This is a mockery of the people's rights. Today, the price of onions has reduced because the Congress' salt conspiracy has been exposed. They have played low level politics to gather votes.
The BJP is perceived as being stronger in the cities than towns and villages. What do you think is the reason for this urban-rural divide as compared to the Congress in MP?
What happens in our country is that some old theories are have continued in the minds of the people for years. These theories haven't been dispelled yet. It was during the Jan Sangh days that we were referred to as a part of the city. But the Lok Sabha elections have shown that we had a majority in 200 to 220 assembly segments. These 222 are not city seats. To talk of the statistics of the 1970s is irrelevant. The BJP has reached all parts of society.
The BJP has not made inroads in traditional Congress strongholds. How do you think you can dislodge the Congress' dominance in those areas?
You see, MP has 140 reserved seats. If we had been weak on that front, we wouldn't have come to power with a 2/3rds majority in 1990. This when 1/3 of MP is SC/ST. So this assumption is imaginary. Even in the last Lok Sabha election we have more tribal MPs than the Congress. And the BJP has worked in great depth in those areas.
Can you specify what kind of work the BJP has done?
Take the example of Jhabua, a Congress stronghold since Independence. The BJP has never won a seat there. Though we won lost again the last time, it was with a very narrow margin. This time we are confident of taking more than half the seats in Jhabua district. We have achieved this through live contact, by agitating for their issues, then through Chattisgarh. The state BJP president is also a tribal. Chattisgarh has a major tribal chunk, because of this we will get an additional benefit there.
Last time we had more seats than the Congress. Moreover, the Congress has lost the confidence of the tribals. They have not been able to do anything for them in the last five years. There have been so many incidences of rape of tribal women that we cannot even imagine. There is a reaction to that among them, specially tribal women. Then there are instances when the Congress has tried to cover such cases.
In Jhabua, one assembly segment is being represented by a Congress candidate allegedly connected in the nuns rape case.
What is his name?
(Mentions it.)
But this allegation has been denied by the Congress?
No, not yet.
But is the Congress naive to give a ticket to someone tainted in the rape case in that area?
Political compulsions, nothing else.
Regardless of this, Digvijay Singh has emerged as the biggest political survivor in recent times…
During his chief ministership, he has faced two elections and lost both. He is only a survivor in the Congress party, not in the eyes of the people. Secondly, the Congress is a spent force in the country and Digvijay Singh is just an island.
You agree that he is still an island then?
He may be a king there, but is he a king with the people?
What about the differences in your own party? V K Saklecha left the party, 150 party workers quit the party in in Bilaspur, Dr Mastakar left and joined the Ajeya Bharat Party…
These things only hold importance till November 25. The results will show that the BJP has not been hindered. These type of juicy stories appear in the media only for 2 to 3 days.
But it is still happening, isn't that a concern for the party at the state level?
No, not at all.
What about Saklecha's departure?
You will see many such instances where people have left parties for personal political gains. The people do not give much significance to this. We have the Vaghela incident, what's his position now?
What makes you so confident that the people will choose the BJP?
The credibility of the party. Dissatisfaction with Digvijay Singh's government and the urge for change.
How does MP figure in the BJP's scheme of things?
Since the Jan Sangh days, MP has been a strong BJP state and I think our position will only improve.
What's on the agenda if the BJP comes to power?
Infrastructure, specially roads. Strengthening the economy, agro-based agricultural schemes. We want to provide loans to small farmers where the initial Rs 5,000 to buy seeds etc is without interest. To tackle corruption and strengthen the Lok Ayukta.
How much of a factor is the BSP?
It will go unnoticed. Yes, the Ajeya Bharat Party can damage some Congress votes because some people from the Congress have joined that party.
Assembly Election '98
The Rediff Interviews
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