ELECTIONS '98 COMMENTARY
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'We knew it would be a tough fight, but did not think it would be so bad'

The Bharatiya Janata Party office is quiet, and bereft of people, save mediapersons in search of the elusive quote. Most of the party's top leaders have done the disappearing act as results of huge losses flash across television screens. However, a lone sentinel in the form of state BJP president, Raghuveer Singh Kaushal, sits in his office, handling the unenviable task of answering queries. A couple of party workers keep trooping in with a mobile giving him the latest results, which is nor really good news for him.

Believing in the dictum 'Treat good news and bad news equally' Kaushal took all news stoically and did not flinch from the press. In fact, he chided a top leader, telling him that hiding will not change facts and that the leader should come to the party office to meet the people and the press.

Kaushal, dressed smartly in a crisp kurta and jacket, spoke to Rediff On The Net Senior Assistant Editor Amberish K Diwanji to explain his party's disastrous showing.

The Congress is winning an absolute majority. Did your party expect such a huge defeat?

It does look like as though the Congress will win an absolute majority, something which has really surprised us. We knew it would be a tough fight, especially after the March 1998 Lok Sabha results, but did not think it would be so bad. We now are looking at only 60 seats (out of 200), while earlier we had anticipated at least 90 seats.

What went wrong for the BJP?

I think the single biggest reason for our defeat was the price rise, which swept the people's sentiments. It was a temporary issue that took centre stage only recently, pushing aside all our good work of the past five years. We have worked hard on development issues right down to the villages, but it was to no avail. Even other national factors such as the nuclear blasts in Pokhran, our effort on the women's bill, the fact that law and order in the state was good, etc, failed to have any impact before the price rise issue. There was no charge of corruption against any of our leaders.

And last, but not the least, the constant threats to the BJP central government by our various allies only gave the impression that our central government was weak, which had an effect on the state and hurt our performance in the elections.

Don't you think the BJP should have acted harder and faster on the issue of price rise?

In retrospect, I completely agree. We did not earlier think that the price rise was a big issue, but it certainly became one. But you must remember that rising prices was an urban phenomenon, affecting the poor in the cities, especially Jaipur. It was not a Rajasthan factor then, and not in the villages. Also, we did take action and towards the last few days, prices had come down considerably, but by then I guess the die was cast and it was too late for us. There was also the anti-incumbency factor, which explains why all the ruling parties are in trouble in all the four states.

But given the anti-incumbency factor, maybe your party should have been more guarded. There is a belief that after Pokhran, the BJP became overconfident, that you depended too much on Congress rebels?

When the electorate takes a viewpoint, it is very difficult to change their minds. For instance, way back in 1977, when there was a Janata Party government, we had done great work introducing the food for work scheme for the villagers. Everyone appreciated our effort, yet in 1980, the Congress returned to power simply because the electorate was set on that.

The BJP was not overconfident after Pokhran. Perhaps we lost because we were overcautious, especially after our defeat in the Lok Sabha election. We were very careful while choosing candidates for the election, keeping in mind the factors of popularity and caste. But it was of no avail.

I agree that the rebels, on whom our party was banking, proved to be of no use. We did believe that they would cut into the Congress's votes. But in the pro-Congress wave, they were pushed aside.

Did not the BJP make plans to reverse the anti-BJP feeling which became so evident eight months ago?

We took all the precautions. We passed a budget that would please all. We chose candidates for the assembly elections with care. We cut the price of water, electricity, road tariff, etc. Perhaps one mistake was that we did not agree to regularise all the hutments and unlicensed dwellings, which upset vast segments of people. And we were unable to inform people of the good work done by the Centre for the people.

There were charges of indifference of the top leaders of the government. Party workers claimed that ministers were inaccessible. Is Chief Minister Shekhawat to blame?

The chief minister was an approachable person as far as the people were concerned. Regarding the workers' claim that they could not meet ministers I have nothing to say. The government did take action against certain ministers who were considered inefficient, but I guess it was too late to make an impact.

It will not be fair to blame Shekhawat alone for the party's defeat. The blame lies with all the ministers and with the entire party. It is a collective defeat.

What is the next step for the BJP?

The people have given us a mandate to sit in the Opposition, and we respect the verdict. We will be a responsible Opposition party, something that the Congress never was. The Congress was forever creating trouble and holding demonstrations. We will be more responsible. Just a single issue does not finish our party. We will now strengthen our party for future challenges.

And new issues will come up. We will continue to take the side of the people and raise their issues in the assembly. We will analyse the reasons for our defeat and rectify the mistakes.

Do not the election prove that the BJP must widen its social base if they want to win elections?

Our impression is that many people feel that if the BJP had a majority of its own in Parliament, it would have been more efficient and capable, which effect would percolate to the people. Hence, the national party will meet to consider what needs to be done regarding our base. I have nothing to say at this juncture.

Assembly Election '98

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