Congress will bounce back with renewed vigour, says Sachin Pilot

Interview with Congress leader Sachin Pilot

Sachin Pilot, 38, is undeterred by successive defeats suffered by the Congress party since 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Instead, he argues that Congress is the only party to challenge BJP nationally in the next general elections. In an interview with Sanjay Jog, Pilot, who is in Mumbai, speaks on the recent political developments and party's future.

With successive defeats — the most recent one being in Assam and Kerala — is it the last nail in the electoral coffin for the grand old party and its faltering and flailing dynastic leadership?

In the recently-held elections in Assam, the BJP, with its two allies, succeeded to get majority after 15-year rule of the Congress party. However, in Tamil Nadu the party could not even open its account; so also in Pondicherry.  In Kerala, the BJP got just one seat. On the other hand, Congress has won in all 144 seats in these states.

 

Similarly, the BJP lost badly in Bihar and Delhi. In the civic polls and Panchayat elections in Gujarat and other states too, the BJP has suffered defeat.

In order to cover up the government's failures on bringing back black money, curbing the ever-increasing farmers’ suicides and food inflation, they are using CBI and other agencies to target Congress leaders. BJP observed silence when the Vyapam scam came to the fore; so also the Lalit Modi scam and the Rajasthan land scam. There has been mismatch between what the BJP promised and the actual delivery by the government on the ground.

Congress is 130-plus-year-old party and has shown a stellar performance during these years. The recent defeats will lead to party's demise is hugely exaggerated in the media. 

Sonia Gandhi is elected as the party president and Rahul as vice-president during the party's electoral process. The party has seen victories and defeats and I am confident that it will bounce back with renewed vigour.

Some of your party leaders have called for a major surgery for revival while some want new faces be given a chance. What is your take?

Congress exists in every nook and corner of the country. At the national level, it is battling with the BJP and in states with regional forces. Congress party continues to be party of everybody with its positioning as left of the Centre. Congress-led governments brought in economic reforms in the country and took a number of decisions across the sectors to scale up growth. BJP is carrying forward the same.

Congress party will take the necessary decisions to reform and act in due course of time. Let me tell you it is the only party to challenge BJP at the national level and dethrone Modi in 2019 elections.

BJP claims that recent defeats have made its Congress Mukta Bharat campaign stronger. How do you react?

BJP contested the 2014 general elections on the Congress Mukta plank and won 280 plus seats. But Congress party was not wiped out. I want to recall that in 1984 elections Congress won a record 430 seats while BJP bagged only two seats. Congress never talked about eradicating BJP or any other party and never acted acrimoniously.

But BJP is not prepared to give its due space to Congress instead go on talking about Congress Mukta Bharat.

Besides, the fringe elements in the BJP including their ministers and MPs have been at the forefront to create hatred and divide the country.

BJP also is repeatedly questioning the Congress party's secular credentials. What do you have to comment?

BJP should not teach us nationalism. Congress party, during the freedom struggle and thereafter, worked tirelessly for the national integrity. Party leaders have sacrificed their lives. The party also suffered political losses for the betterment of internal security.

BJP is now in power in border states, including Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. In the run up to the general elections, Modi talked about 56-inch chest to take on Pakistan. Let us watch whether BJP-led government shows bravado to keep our borders intact.

Is time opportune for Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Congress President?

Exact timing will be decided by the Congress working committee and the party president Sonia Gandhi.