INTERVIEW OF GUJARAT CHIEF MINISTER

GUJ WILL VOTE FOR BJP, DEVELOPMENT: RUPANI

Monday, 20 November 2017 | Pioneer

In the previous three Assembly elections in Gujarat, Vijay Rupani played important role as Saurashtra region in-charge for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. On every occasion, the BJP won more than 30 out of 47 seats from the politically active region. These results proved Rupani’s excellent organisational skills. Now as Gujarat Chief Minister, he has even bigger responsibility, especially in view of the target given to him to win 150 out of 182 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls. The 61-year-old BJP leader will have uphill task to achieve the target in view of Patidar agitation and other plethora of issues. In an exclusive interview to The Pioneer’s Nayan Dave, the Gujarat Chief Minister candidly speaks on BJP’s chances in 2017 Assembly polls: Excerpts:

As you know the trinity — Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani — is openly supporting the Opposition Congress, how would the BJP achieve 150 plus target?

People know it very well that these three are working as Congress agents. Alpesh has officially joined the

Congress despite publicly vowing not to join politics. Likewise, the other two also stand exposed by declaring their support to the Congress. Now, it is clear that the Congress was behind their agitations to destabilise Gujarat. The Congress has resorted to low level of politics and is trying to divide society in the name of caste. The Congress has outsourced politics to such elements as they have no issue. People are not happy with such tactics. They have come to know the real cause of agitations. The trinity initiated agitation for personal interest and not for their communities. In such scenario, the BJP’s chances to achieve 150-seat target have brightened.

Repeatedly Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leaders have blamed you and your party for making alleged sex video of Hardik Patel. How would you like to react?

The BJP has nothing to do with these alleged videos. If they have evidence, they can always file police complaint or take legal actions. Four days after the videos became viral, PAAS leaders started blaming us just to save Hardik’s image. This was an unsuccessful attempt to divert the issue.

What would be the BJP’s poll agenda?

The party will contest on development agenda. India is competing globally and new generation’s hunger for development has increased. The youth want a leader who can deliver on promises and does value-based politics. The electors would vote for the leadership with clear development vision for the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is acceptable not only in India but across the globe. Development for all (Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas) will be the BJP’s poll plank. Peace and stability are necessary for development.

Since 2002, people have experienced peace in the State along with political stability. Unfortunately, the Congress is trying to disturb peace by promoting caste-based politics.

Which are the major achievements of your Government?

My Government has an image of being decisive. In 365 days, we took more than 500 pro-people decisions. Through ‘Seva Setu’ programme, we could solve more than 1 crore issues of small people. Gujarat’s lifeline Narmada project completed just a few months back. Farmers are reaping fruits of SAUNI and Sujalam Sufalam irrigation projects as major work towards these two projects completed during the tenure of this Government. On the basis of such projects, income of people, especially farmers would increase and ultimately will impact positively on the State’s GDP. Issues were resolved with teamwork and dialogues without any controversy.

It is believed that the Gujarat BJP is heavily banking upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi, what do you say?

Narendrabhai is a national leader. He hails from Gujarat and his involvement in Gujarat polls is natural. Modiji is plus point for us. The Congress doesn’t have a single leader of his stature. When he was Gujarat Chief Minister, the BJP used to get around 120 out of 182 seats. His elevation from Gujarat CM to the Prime Minister of India coupled with Central Government’s performance under his leadership in the last three and half years, should help us to secure 150 seats. People know how repeated scams flourished under then Manmohan Singh Government and its 10-year tenure and tarnished the image of India internationally. We will tell the people about clean governance given by the Modi Government at the Centre.

Don’t you think Gujarat poll campaigns are based on national issues rather than local, and it’s becoming direct Modi vs Rahul battle?

It is not the fact. Deliberately the Congress is raising national issues, especially GST and demonetization, by spreading lies and fears among people. It is their dirty tactics to gain politically. But such shortcuts will never work. Our party is projecting all the development works done by the BJP-ruled Governments in the State along with pro-people initiatives taken by the Modi Government at the Centre during the past three and half years. As far as your battle question is concerned, you need to understand when election of any State is being fought, top leaders of national parties are always highlighted. For two decades, the Congress accumulated votes in the name of Indira Gandhi, may it be Assembly polls or Lok Sabha elections. It is natural as like in some other States, regional parties do not exist in Gujarat.

But in the previous three elections, the BJP successfully contested under Modi’s leadership only…

Modiji is a strong leader and he made immense impact during the past Assembly polls. But even during his tenure as Gujarat CM, senior BJP leaders came in his support and did intensive poll campaign across the State during elections.

Don’t you think first time Rahul is being projected as a star campaigner for the Congress in Gujarat polls… perhaps as part of preparation to elevate him as Congress president…

Projection of Rahul is only helping us. Wherever he will visit, people would vote for the BJP. We wish he becomes AICC president as early as possible as it would help us to make India Congress-free even earlier.

Can Gujarat elections be considered as semi-final to 2019 Lok Sabha polls?

Not exactly, but every State elections have impact on national politics. We won Uttar Pradesh polls, which is having positive impact on Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections. Results of both these States and Karnataka polls in March will definitely have impact on 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Interestingly, the Congress lost most elections in the past three years. The question is whether the Congress will be capable of contesting next Lok Sabha polls. The Opposition party wouldn’t be in position to fight by that time. Whenever a Congress Government comes to power poverty, unemployment and corruption increase.

In the Himachal Pradesh elections, the BJP declared chief ministerial candidate, what about Gujarat?

It is not my subject. The party leadership will take the decision. In my four-decade long public life, I considered myself as party soldier and whatever work given by the party I honestly tried to complete. I am disciplined party worker and will accept decision of party leadership.

You successfully worked as Saurashtra in-charge of the BJP in the past three Assembly polls. Now you are Chief Minister, how many seats will your party win this time from the region?

There are 47 Assembly constituencies in the region. I am confident that the BJP will win more than 35 seats from there.

Will Modi magic work?

The way it worked in the past, this time too it will work. People of Uttar Pradesh voted for the BJP in the name of Modi. History will be repeated in Gujarat. His upcoming public meetings and rallies in the State will have great impact. His appeal to voters through a letter has already struck a chord among voters.

Will demonetisation and GST issues adversely affect the BJP?

These issues are being raised by the Congress. I still remember a month after demonetisation, elections of 10,000 village panchayats held in Gujarat. When result came, the BJP won 80 per cent of panchayats. Not only in Gujarat, the party won State Assembly polls in five States and local body elections in Maharashtra post-demonetisation. As far as GST is concerned, business communities have no problem with the new tax regime. They had some issues related to filing of forms and in some cases tax slabs which have either been solved or under consideration. 

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