Rajnath Singh has shouldered crucial responsibilities for BJP, time and again. With elections approaching fast in several states, 2012 promises to be an eventful year for the mass leader. In an exclusive conversation with Parimal Peeyush, Rajnath discusses politics, corruption, Anna Hazare and more...
B&E: What are your expectations for the party’s performance in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand? How well do you expect the party to fare this time around?
Rajnath Singh (RS): We already have our government in Uttarakhand and I am confident that the party will return to power once again. In Uttar Pradesh too, BJP’s graph is shooting northwards at an immense pace. It is true that BJP was weak in the state. The reason was our alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which I feel was not in tune with the expectations people had from our party. People had seen the rule of SP and they were so filled with anger that they got BSP to power even though they did not want to. Now they have suffered at the hands of the BSP as well. So, the people of UP want the BJP to come to power. They have seen our party’s governance and there is a general belief that when it comes to good governance, BJP fares better than all other parties.
B&E: How many seats do you see it translating into? There are talks that the BJP could go for a post-poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Is it true?
RS: Our target, of course, is full majority and the way the party’s graph has been rising in the state, the possibility cannot be negated. Coming to your second question, let me be very clear that BJP has decided not to go for any alliance with BSP, neither pre-poll nor post-poll. We will neither extend our support to BSP, nor ask for it. We will be happy to play our role as the Opposition, but an alliance with BSP, under any circumstances, is not on cards.
B&E: The BJP government in Uttarakhand has recently passed the Lokayukta Bill. The party also replaced Nishank with B. C. Khanduri as the state Chief Minister. How well do you think this has worked for the image of your party?
RS: When it comes to addressing the issue of corruption in India, the first positive step in this regard has been taken by the Uttarakhand government. The legislation is on the lines of the Jan Lokpal Bill. If you look at the Congress Party, there is no doubt left in anybody’s minds today that they are not in favour of bringing a Lokpal Bill on the lines of the Jan Lokpal. I personally don’t feel that there was any shortcoming with Nishank. Sometimes, keeping in mind what role a leader should play, certain strategic changes are brought about.
B&E: With elections approaching in Punjab as well, what are your expectations for the party’s performance in the state? Do you believe that the BJP-Akali Dal combine could come back to power?
RS: I certainly believe so. There should be a repeat of the BJP-Akali Dal combine. Look, the way prices have gone up, there is a lot of real anger out there. Rise in petrol price has also annoyed people. There is absolutely no reason for the Congress to come to power in Punjab. If you look at the performance of the central government in the past few months, you get a feeling that there is a defunct government working out there, a government, which does not know what to do and what not to do. Even if you look at the history of the Congress, when have they been correct? They have deceived the public either with policies or with slogans.
B&E: What are your expectations for the party’s performance in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand? How well do you expect the party to fare this time around?
Rajnath Singh (RS): We already have our government in Uttarakhand and I am confident that the party will return to power once again. In Uttar Pradesh too, BJP’s graph is shooting northwards at an immense pace. It is true that BJP was weak in the state. The reason was our alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which I feel was not in tune with the expectations people had from our party. People had seen the rule of SP and they were so filled with anger that they got BSP to power even though they did not want to. Now they have suffered at the hands of the BSP as well. So, the people of UP want the BJP to come to power. They have seen our party’s governance and there is a general belief that when it comes to good governance, BJP fares better than all other parties.
B&E: How many seats do you see it translating into? There are talks that the BJP could go for a post-poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Is it true?
RS: Our target, of course, is full majority and the way the party’s graph has been rising in the state, the possibility cannot be negated. Coming to your second question, let me be very clear that BJP has decided not to go for any alliance with BSP, neither pre-poll nor post-poll. We will neither extend our support to BSP, nor ask for it. We will be happy to play our role as the Opposition, but an alliance with BSP, under any circumstances, is not on cards.
B&E: The BJP government in Uttarakhand has recently passed the Lokayukta Bill. The party also replaced Nishank with B. C. Khanduri as the state Chief Minister. How well do you think this has worked for the image of your party?
RS: When it comes to addressing the issue of corruption in India, the first positive step in this regard has been taken by the Uttarakhand government. The legislation is on the lines of the Jan Lokpal Bill. If you look at the Congress Party, there is no doubt left in anybody’s minds today that they are not in favour of bringing a Lokpal Bill on the lines of the Jan Lokpal. I personally don’t feel that there was any shortcoming with Nishank. Sometimes, keeping in mind what role a leader should play, certain strategic changes are brought about.
B&E: With elections approaching in Punjab as well, what are your expectations for the party’s performance in the state? Do you believe that the BJP-Akali Dal combine could come back to power?
RS: I certainly believe so. There should be a repeat of the BJP-Akali Dal combine. Look, the way prices have gone up, there is a lot of real anger out there. Rise in petrol price has also annoyed people. There is absolutely no reason for the Congress to come to power in Punjab. If you look at the performance of the central government in the past few months, you get a feeling that there is a defunct government working out there, a government, which does not know what to do and what not to do. Even if you look at the history of the Congress, when have they been correct? They have deceived the public either with policies or with slogans.
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles
2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
