For the first time BJP has said there is an anti-incumbency factor in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh but the party’s top leadership has left no stone unturned to overcome it, says BJP general secretary and poll-in-charge Ananth Kumar in an interview to Shashikant Trivedi. Excerpts:
There is no Shivraj-wave or anger against Congress in the state as a result indications from ground level are different from those in 2003 assembly elections. What is your strategy in the last leg of campaign?
The major difference between 2003, 2008 and 2013 election is that people have a clear vision about Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, his personal image and also failure of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. In 2008, Shivraj Singh had been given mandate since commoner accepted him as a leader who has a vision. The public of this state allowed him to continue and put him on test. He has kept his promises and has not fallen short of commoners expectations.
But there is an anti-incumbancy factor everywhere against sitting members of legislative assembly and cabinet colleagues of Chouhan…
Yes. There was an anti-incumbency at local level. Our central leadership knew about it, which is why we have changed candidates on 43 seats.
True, but it triggered a dissatisfaction among many workers, local leaders and several turned rebellion and dissidents?
Our Central leadership has reached them, discussed with them and convinced them successfully about the situation. It is the prime reason that our top leadership had planned to organise 290 public meetings; each assembly seat should have at least one programme or meeting. Will you believe that tomorrow there will be 68 public meetings at different constituencies? Has it happened earlier? If there was any protest it has now been subsided.
Then why voters mood seems giving tough challenges this elections?
We are facing a challenge between winning the election and crossing the number of 143 seats which had claimed during 2008 elections.
Does it mean you have yet not tied some loose ends?
Not exactly, in fact we wanted change candidates on more seats but there are different political reasons; geographical, community, cast and also organizational equations. We did what was the best possible.
Your party is propagating the message that the chief minister has done exceptionally well in creating infrastructure; road, power and water. But micro-level issues have been ignored largely even in the chief minister’s constituency?
It is true that a lot needs to be done to fine tune the government but our chief minister will come of an age during his next tenure. He has already transformed the state from a Bimaru state to a developing state.
Does it mean your party will not allow the Chief Minister to take more responsibility in Central leadership and any other senior leader to take over in Madhya Pradesh?
Our chief minister has become an established leader in Madhya Pradesh, he is not contesting elections on two seats but on all seats. The voters have faith in him, people are voting in his name. In other terms he is in fact a main factor in these elections. Moreover he already comes from our national leadership, in other way he is senior to me. He had held many positions in our national leadership. But as of now public wants him to lead Madhya Pradesh and Narendra Bhai to lead the nation.
Does it mean your party imposes leaders and do not let MLAs to elect their leader?
No, we do not decide about leadership. The public decides, when public has accepted Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narendra Bhai as leaders in their respective responsibilities, who we are do decide? Why should party or elected MLAs differ with public?
