Considered close to Vaghela at one stage, today his survival depends on the latter's actions. Here, he talks to Saibal Dasgupta about the crisis being faced by the Gujarat unit of the BJP and his efforts to provide good governance.
Q. Some political observers feel Vaghela's new party, the Rash-triya Janata Party, will manage to dislodge your government. How do you view the situation ?
A. Quite the contrary. The new party is stillborn. It does not stand a chance against the might and popularity of the BJP. Barring a few misguided legislators and former ministers, I do not think any other MLA will risk his future by joining Vaghela.
Q. Why were you not given a free hand by the party high command to tackle the factionalism among the two groups of BJP legislators ?
A. It was not possible at that time. You know the situation.
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Q. The chief ministership was an opportunity for you to chart out a new course and rise above factionalism as a state leader in your own right. But you seem to have got sandwiched between the two rival groups. Comments
A. This has not been possible in the short period as chief minister. I also do not believe in creating a third force. I do not have that kind of mentality. I have not sought the leadership of the legislature party. I have never sought anything for myself. But once it was given to me, I could not have shied away from the responsibility.
Q. What do you think of Sank- ersinh Vaghela's grievances on the campaign to defeat him in the Lok Sabha election in Godhra and the assault on ex-minister Atma-ram Patel ?
A. I have repeatedly condemned both these events. It is certainly not proper to campaign against the party's own candidate. Assaulting a senior minister is simply not pardonable.
Q. But the police has not taken any action against those named in the FIR, including a senior leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad ?
A.. The police has registered a case. But it can only act after getting evidence. There may have been some delays but action will be taken whenever the police is able to gather sufficient evidence.
Q. You were regarded to be close to Vaghela till recently. Surely, you could have used your influence on Vaghela to bring about a truce between the warring groups.
A. I have tried to take everyone along with me. There has been no discrimination on my part. I have done my best to bridge the gap between the two groups. But Vaghela did not give up his attacks on the party leadership. His tantrums became unbearable. The leadership was forced to expel him after trying to accommodate him to the extent possible.
Q. The open rivalry between the two groups in BJP has weakened the party's Hindutva plank and its claim of being a disciplined organisation.
A. This is only a temporary phase. I am sure the party will overcome the phase and the people's faith in the party will remain intact.
Q. Isn't political instability affecting the functioning of the state administration and the state's economy?
A. I have ensured that the decision-making and implementation processes in the administration are not affected. We have been able to take decisive action in areas that have been neglected for years. We have taken some important decisions on attracting industrial investments and improving the quality of life in the rural areas.
Q. Vaghela has accused you of compromising the interest of the state on the Narmada issue. Comments.
A. This accusation is really funny. We have actually managed to avoid stoppage of work on the project. I have been praised for my efforts in all the four participating states.
Q. For several years, government leaders of all political hues have been claiming that NRIs belonging to Gujarat are ready to invest as much as Rs 5,000 crore on the Narmada project. But hardly any NRI investment has come in.
A. This is because not much concrete work has been done on the project for a long time. We have not speeded up the construction work including canal works.