'We'll form the next government in Gujarat'

Q&A/ Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki

has grown up with the Congress. This 54-year-old son of former Gujarat chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki, is confident of creating an upset.

"I have always wanted to run the last leg of this election like Carl Lewis," says Solanki, an engineer who loves sports "" he's been playing games such as basket ball, tennis, swimming and football. The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief talks to Business Standard about Gujarat elections and his future plans.

How do you see Congress faring in this election?

We'll form the next government in Gujarat. Our estimates suggest we'll get around 120 seats. We'll make a major dent in BJP's tally in Saurashtra, which accounts for 52 seats in the Assembly and where the BJP had won 35 seats last time around. We are also expecting to do well in the rural areas.

But the BJP seems to be confident about Narendra Modi's return to power?

Nobody can make such claims without knowing what rural Gujarat thinks. There is a silent majority in rural areas who decide who is fit to rule the state.

The parliamentary election in 2004 is a classic example. There was a silent majority of voters who emphatically stated that India was not shining under NDA. I had advised a lot of my Congress friends to contest as I could see a clear undercurrent in favour of my party.

In fact, overall, we beat the BJP in 2004 in the total number of Assembly segments which went our way, a point ignored by many psephologists and the BJP. Today, when I visit rural areas, I can feel a similar undercurrent in our favour. I believe Dinsha Patel will defeat Narenda Modi in Maninagar as well.

Congress under you has been a different party in Gujarat. Did you face any resistance while introducing changes during your stint as the GPCC chief?

Ever since I have taken over in 2006, I have done things by taking people along. My first public rally took off almost an hour late because I made it a point to wait for my colleagues.

After a long time there was a rally where almost all Congress leaders were present. It's all about human relations. There is a difference between a mass leader and a manager. A manager, like Arun Jaitley, cannot win an election in Gujarat.

Congress has been passing through a rough patch in Gujarat. What has been your approach?

Ups and downs are a part of any game. When I joined politics in 1992, the party's fortunes had hit rock bottom. Today, we are hopeful of winning this election.

The first thing I told my co-workers after taking over was: Party is above everything. Secondly, there cannot be miracles and we'll have to work hard and work as a unit if we want to win. Discipline was one area we focused on, not just in terms of infighting.

Today, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee is the only political office in India where tobacco and smoking are not allowed. We have made it clear that this is a workplace and not a gossip 'adda'.

Unlike Modi, who thrives on the politics of fear and favour, we have tried to create an atmosphere of cohesion and trust. Politics is about taking the maximum number of people with you and not alienating them as Modi seems to have done. Today, the entire Congress is fighting as one, and one can clearly see that there are large swathes of the BJP who are against Modi and want him to lose.

As against Modi's Rs 3,000 per hoarding, we have gone for Rs 70 wall painting and yet it has evoked a better response. We started off by singing songs like "Sathi Haath Badhana". Today, my co-workers are singing "Hum honge kamyaab". The workers are very positive.

But Modi claims to run an honest government. What do you have to say on that?

This is a government of 'paanch crorepatis' (five billionaires), who thrive on the patronage of Narendra Modi. In the name of development he has made sure that only big business has thrived. But it's not easy to fool people. Gujarat's voter is aware of the nexus a handful of industrialists have with the chief minister.

Do you mean to say Gujarat has not done well under BJP?

Yes. The state has slid in its overall ranking. Our core industries namely textiles, pharma, dyestuff and diamonds are facing the heat due to some state government policies.

Small and medium enterprises, which has been Gujarat's core strength has suffered in this regime. Only a select few large industrial houses have got the benefit.

For instance, pharmaceutical companies are moving out of Gujarat because of state government's policies. Diamond industry is facing issues. How can we say that the state has done well in this regime?

What will be the Congress party's agenda if it comes to power?

We intend to make Gujarat the knowledge corridor of India. The state has lost out on the information technology front. Today, when I see youngsters doing well in Bangalore, I think why can't the young people of my state have similar opportunities, why should we lag behind? We will offer these opportunities and more when we come to power.

But don't you think Gujarat has attracted a lot of investments? The state government has been giving out impressive figures to make their point.

Gujarat has been one of the most industrialised states right from the beginning. In fact, I would say that it is the Gujarati spirit of entrepreneurship which is responsible for its growth and successive governments and chief ministers have contributed to its growth.

Nobody can claim that he has made Gujarat what it is today, it is the character of the people, which has ensured its success. More so, the investment figures provided by the state government are fudged.

In fact, in terms of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), Gujarat is far behind many other states. A lot of the capital being invested in the state is home grown, which is not a bad thing in itself, but the BJP's lie that Gujarat has become the investment destination for foreign capital has to be nailed.