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The Rediff Interview/ Rajnath Singh

'There is no dissent in the BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit'

After it became apparent that the sluggish administration of Ram Prakash Gupta would deliver nothing less than a humiliating result in next year's assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership decided to replace the Uttar Pradesh chief minister with Union Surface Transport Minister Rajnath Singh.

The decision was prompted by Gupta's reluctance to shoulder responsibility owing to ill-health, asserts Singh in his first interview after being chosen as UP's next chief minister. As his home, 38 Ashok Road, in New Delhi took on a festive mood, Singh was relaxed and discussed his priorities with Onkar Singh and Josy Joseph, carefully evading questions on dissidence within the state BJP and the Ayodhya controversy.

Why was Ram Prakash Gupta replaced?

After Gupta expressed his unwillingness to continue, the BJP central leadership was left with no alternative but to come up with a replacement.

What will be Mr Gupta's role in the future?

From the past, I have been following the political philosophy of Guptaji and will do so in the future. He will continue to guide the party.

There is a lot of dissension among the BJP's coalition partners in UP. Will you be able to carry all of them along with you?

Yes. I have the enough experience to be able to carry my coalition partners and the party cadre along with me. I am sure our coalition partners and my party colleagues will extend a helping hand and guide me in leading the government.

What would be your priorities?

Law and order is the first and topmost priority. Though this is not to mean that the law and order situation is bad now. Gupta handled the law and order situation very well. However, I would strive to improve on it. The problems of farmers and villages, which have not been paid proper attention, would also figure in my list of priorities.

You are known to be a good administrator. That must have weighed heavily in your favour.

It is for the people to judge me.

How do you plan to tackle dissidence within the state BJP?

There is no dissent in the party. We are all united. It is wrong to say that a crisis in the UP unit was the reason for the central leadership asking me to take over.

What will be your government's stand on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue? Is the construction of the Ram temple going to be a priority?

No. We will talk about it after I reach Lucknow.

What is your opinion on the demand for the division of UP into smaller states?

It is not necessary that UP should be further divided. We will take up this issue once I assume the office of chief minister. These are delicate issues.

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