Confident of significant gains in states like West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh while equally sure of retaining dominance in north and central India, BJP president J P Nadda tells TOI’s Akhilesh Singh his party is set to retain office with a thumping majority. Excerpts:
Just one phase of polling remains. What is your assessment of BJP and NDA‘s performance?
See, BJP on its own has already crossed the majority mark…some guesstimates suggest the party has won 310 seats after five phases. After seven phases, our party is poised to cross 370 seats and NDA will cross 400. The mood across the country is very positive for the BJP-led alliance. Voters trust Narendra Modi and they are voting for BJP to make him PM again. There is no ambiguity among them, which makes us confident of winning with a bigger margin. Even opposition parties have started acknowledging that BJP is winning and they are sounding distressed. Their tone changed from the third phase onwards as they realised that there is a wave for BJP and PM Modi.
Which factors do you think are working for BJP?
Modi ji’s leadership has been the key factor There is a general feeling, I think unanimity, across the country that PM Modi has brought about a paradigm change across the social spectrum, including the political culture of the country… politics of report card, politics of accountability, performance, last-mile delivery, saturating implementation of social welfare schemes. There is unflinching trust in PM Modi’s leadership among diverse sections. Be it educated or semi-educated, urban or rural resident, they have all been beneficiaries and the way global perception about the image of the country has changed has resulted in optimism and enthusiasm. Before 2014, there was indifference towards governance and political leadership of the country. PM Modi changed that. Let me give you a few examples. We entered the poll fray in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in a big way and our candidates had to face entrenched regional players like AIADMK and DMK in TN and the two alliances (LDF, UDF) in Kerala. However, thanks to the Modi factor, we are expecting seats from these states also. If you look at the popularity chart, PM Modi has trumped and there is hardly anyone raising questions about his leadership. Ease of living, and empowerment of women, poor, farmers and youth created a pro-Modi wave. Besides, people are feeling proud about the focus on cultural heritage as we have a slogan ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’, which underlines our aim to move on with the times and yet remember our legacy.
Reports suggest that BJP is not improving its performance in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and its struggle for a foothold in the two states continues.
I have no idea about your source of information but let me tell you that our party is going to win seats Tamil Nadu and it could happen in Kerala too. We may not win too many seats but BJP’s vote is set to increase significantly. Modi’s popularity was seen in both states but translating that popularity into electoral wins takes time as you need a strong local organisation and winnable candidates. However, we are going to break the myth about TN and Kerala being alien territory for us and our footprint there is going to only expand.
What is your reaction to AAP‘s allegation that their Rajya Sabha MP, Swati Maliwal, is a ‘BJP agent’?
See, AAP leaders, and I say with full responsibility, are urban Naxals in disguise. And in a way, their style of functioning is to create disorder in society. Therefore, spreading lies and falsehoods come easily to them. They had pledged not to join politics, they floated a political outfit, they ruled out alliance with Congress but they are now allies. They claim to be anti-corruption but have been proven to be, despite being a young outfit, the most corrupt. They assured respect for women, look at the way they have behaved (Maliwal’s assault). There is a huge gap between what they say and what they do. The liquor scam and assault on a woman MP have exposed them. Swati Maliwal’s case has exposed Arvind Kejriwal personally, his true face is now there for people to see. This is their way of functioning that they first commit sin (paap) and then make wild allegations to divert attention. They believe in anarchy. They have no ideology… their only ideology is to grab power and hold it at all costs. When they are caught red-handed, then their conduct gets more outrageous. Maliwal is Kejriwal’s party MP, the incident happened in his house, and they released the video, his party MP made the allegations and lodged an FIR and they have to call her a BJP agent. AAP leaders are propagandists, who believe in Goebbels’ principles.
You sound confident that NDA will win 400 seats but reports suggest that BJP is not doing too well in Uttar Pradesh despite there being no SP-BSP alliance like 2019. Moreover, construction of Ram temple has taken place but it seems a sweep by BJP is far-fetched.
Ram temple is an issue of faith for us and not a political issue, we have maintained it for years and still feel so. If you remember, the alliance of the two caste-based parties (SP and BSP) in 2019 was said to be formidable and it was believed BJP won’t repeat its success of 2014. However, political pundits were proven wrong and BJP won 62 seats and the alliance’s tally was 62. Again, there has been an attempt to set the poll narrative on caste and communal lines. However, the groundswell is so different from the reports you are talking about. There is a one-way wave in favour of BJP and people have made up their minds to make BJP the winner again
Maharashtra and Karnataka played a big role in helping BJP cross 300 seats in 2019. But the political situation in both states has changed.
There’ll not be much of a difference in the two states. BJP will achieve 90% of its targets.
Similar reports are coming from Rajasthan as well.
There is no denying that an attempt in Rajasthan was made to divide voters on caste lines and I can say that the opposition succeeded in a few seats. I agree that there are tough contests in a few seats but I don’t see significant damage happening there.
Your tenure as BJP president has witnessed induction of outsiders. Don’t you think there will be a clash of ambitions and interests and that may translate into disappointment among the old party members?
We focus on three important factors. First, BJP is an ideology-based party, second we are cadre-based and third we have a mass following. We don’t accept all but we follow a long process of due diligence and assess them on the three parameters. We assess what strength is added, our old cadres are not disturbed and our ideology is not compromised. Our party is a big family, and we ensure a balance to safeguard the interests of the party cadre and accommodating a newcomer. You haven’t heard of any protest against anyone joining the party. We manage it. We also take cadres into confidence. There might be reservations in a few quarters but our internal democracy and structure are so inclusive that anyone joining the party feels the comfort.
BJP won 303 seats in 2019 but your target is to win 370 this time, which states do you think the party is improving?
West Bengal is for sure, look at the way Mamata Banerjee is behaving. She is set to be wiped out. I won’t be surprised if BJP wins 18 seats in Odisha. We are headed for double-digit figures in Telangana and doing well in Andhra Pradesh with our allies. North-east and north India will be intact.
There is discussion that RSS has not been very active in the ongoing polls?
Not at all. RSS is a social organisation and not a political outfit. You can’t expect it to work like a political organisation, it won’t be acceptable for its leadership also. But we have a common ideological bond and we work for the same ideological goals. We have always received RSS support in our endeavours and they have been helpful this time too.
Just one phase of polling remains. What is your assessment of BJP and NDA‘s performance?
See, BJP on its own has already crossed the majority mark…some guesstimates suggest the party has won 310 seats after five phases. After seven phases, our party is poised to cross 370 seats and NDA will cross 400. The mood across the country is very positive for the BJP-led alliance. Voters trust Narendra Modi and they are voting for BJP to make him PM again. There is no ambiguity among them, which makes us confident of winning with a bigger margin. Even opposition parties have started acknowledging that BJP is winning and they are sounding distressed. Their tone changed from the third phase onwards as they realised that there is a wave for BJP and PM Modi.
Which factors do you think are working for BJP?
Modi ji’s leadership has been the key factor There is a general feeling, I think unanimity, across the country that PM Modi has brought about a paradigm change across the social spectrum, including the political culture of the country… politics of report card, politics of accountability, performance, last-mile delivery, saturating implementation of social welfare schemes. There is unflinching trust in PM Modi’s leadership among diverse sections. Be it educated or semi-educated, urban or rural resident, they have all been beneficiaries and the way global perception about the image of the country has changed has resulted in optimism and enthusiasm. Before 2014, there was indifference towards governance and political leadership of the country. PM Modi changed that. Let me give you a few examples. We entered the poll fray in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in a big way and our candidates had to face entrenched regional players like AIADMK and DMK in TN and the two alliances (LDF, UDF) in Kerala. However, thanks to the Modi factor, we are expecting seats from these states also. If you look at the popularity chart, PM Modi has trumped and there is hardly anyone raising questions about his leadership. Ease of living, and empowerment of women, poor, farmers and youth created a pro-Modi wave. Besides, people are feeling proud about the focus on cultural heritage as we have a slogan ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’, which underlines our aim to move on with the times and yet remember our legacy.
Reports suggest that BJP is not improving its performance in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and its struggle for a foothold in the two states continues.
I have no idea about your source of information but let me tell you that our party is going to win seats Tamil Nadu and it could happen in Kerala too. We may not win too many seats but BJP’s vote is set to increase significantly. Modi’s popularity was seen in both states but translating that popularity into electoral wins takes time as you need a strong local organisation and winnable candidates. However, we are going to break the myth about TN and Kerala being alien territory for us and our footprint there is going to only expand.
What is your reaction to AAP‘s allegation that their Rajya Sabha MP, Swati Maliwal, is a ‘BJP agent’?
See, AAP leaders, and I say with full responsibility, are urban Naxals in disguise. And in a way, their style of functioning is to create disorder in society. Therefore, spreading lies and falsehoods come easily to them. They had pledged not to join politics, they floated a political outfit, they ruled out alliance with Congress but they are now allies. They claim to be anti-corruption but have been proven to be, despite being a young outfit, the most corrupt. They assured respect for women, look at the way they have behaved (Maliwal’s assault). There is a huge gap between what they say and what they do. The liquor scam and assault on a woman MP have exposed them. Swati Maliwal’s case has exposed Arvind Kejriwal personally, his true face is now there for people to see. This is their way of functioning that they first commit sin (paap) and then make wild allegations to divert attention. They believe in anarchy. They have no ideology… their only ideology is to grab power and hold it at all costs. When they are caught red-handed, then their conduct gets more outrageous. Maliwal is Kejriwal’s party MP, the incident happened in his house, and they released the video, his party MP made the allegations and lodged an FIR and they have to call her a BJP agent. AAP leaders are propagandists, who believe in Goebbels’ principles.
You sound confident that NDA will win 400 seats but reports suggest that BJP is not doing too well in Uttar Pradesh despite there being no SP-BSP alliance like 2019. Moreover, construction of Ram temple has taken place but it seems a sweep by BJP is far-fetched.
Ram temple is an issue of faith for us and not a political issue, we have maintained it for years and still feel so. If you remember, the alliance of the two caste-based parties (SP and BSP) in 2019 was said to be formidable and it was believed BJP won’t repeat its success of 2014. However, political pundits were proven wrong and BJP won 62 seats and the alliance’s tally was 62. Again, there has been an attempt to set the poll narrative on caste and communal lines. However, the groundswell is so different from the reports you are talking about. There is a one-way wave in favour of BJP and people have made up their minds to make BJP the winner again
Maharashtra and Karnataka played a big role in helping BJP cross 300 seats in 2019. But the political situation in both states has changed.
There’ll not be much of a difference in the two states. BJP will achieve 90% of its targets.
Similar reports are coming from Rajasthan as well.
There is no denying that an attempt in Rajasthan was made to divide voters on caste lines and I can say that the opposition succeeded in a few seats. I agree that there are tough contests in a few seats but I don’t see significant damage happening there.
Your tenure as BJP president has witnessed induction of outsiders. Don’t you think there will be a clash of ambitions and interests and that may translate into disappointment among the old party members?
We focus on three important factors. First, BJP is an ideology-based party, second we are cadre-based and third we have a mass following. We don’t accept all but we follow a long process of due diligence and assess them on the three parameters. We assess what strength is added, our old cadres are not disturbed and our ideology is not compromised. Our party is a big family, and we ensure a balance to safeguard the interests of the party cadre and accommodating a newcomer. You haven’t heard of any protest against anyone joining the party. We manage it. We also take cadres into confidence. There might be reservations in a few quarters but our internal democracy and structure are so inclusive that anyone joining the party feels the comfort.
BJP won 303 seats in 2019 but your target is to win 370 this time, which states do you think the party is improving?
West Bengal is for sure, look at the way Mamata Banerjee is behaving. She is set to be wiped out. I won’t be surprised if BJP wins 18 seats in Odisha. We are headed for double-digit figures in Telangana and doing well in Andhra Pradesh with our allies. North-east and north India will be intact.
There is discussion that RSS has not been very active in the ongoing polls?
Not at all. RSS is a social organisation and not a political outfit. You can’t expect it to work like a political organisation, it won’t be acceptable for its leadership also. But we have a common ideological bond and we work for the same ideological goals. We have always received RSS support in our endeavours and they have been helpful this time too.