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New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) A year after one of its oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) snapped ties over three new farm laws, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ruled out any possibility of revival of its alliance ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls.
In an exclusive interview to IANS, BJP National General Secretary and in-charge of poll bound Punjab and Uttarakhand, Dushyant Gautam said that "there is no possibility of joining hands with our old partner (SAD)".
Gautam believes that the farmers agitation has no impact on the BJP's electoral fortunes in Punjab and people want peace and development. He claimed that only 2 per cent the farmers, who were misled by leftists and other political parties, are trying to disturb the peaceful environment in the state.
Talking about Uttarakhand, he said that Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has lost credibility among nationalist people of the state by demanding a proof of the surgical and air strikes on Pakistan.
Here are some of the excerpts from the interview.
Q: What are the BJP's chances in next year's Assembly polls in Punjab and Uttarakhand?
Gautam: The BJP is doing extremely well in both the states. Our workers are working hard among people and we are confident of winning next year's Assembly polls in Uttarakhand and Punjab but we are also forming a government in three other states ? Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur ? where elections will be held at the same time. The BJP will form the government in all the five states where the elections will take place in February-March 2022.
The people of Punjab want peace, development, employment for their children, security of women and respect for elders. They really do not want a repeat of 1984 riots or insult of 'Darbar Sahib'. The BJP was the people during the peak of the Covid pandemic and serves them 'Sewa Hi Sangathan'.
The Narendra Modi government at the centre developed Kartarpur corridor, safely brought 'Swaroop of Shri Guru Granth Sahib' from People of Punjab realized that BJP is only party which is committed for development of state.
In the last five years under the guidance of the Prime Minister Modi, Uttarakhand ensured electric supply to all the villages, strengthened roads networks from rural to national highways. Rail connectivity has increased in the state. The BJP government ensured the overall development of the state and based on the work, I am saying that the BJP will win the Assembly elections in Uttarakhand.
Q: What will be the impact of the farmers agitation in the Assembly polls specially in Punjab?
Gautam: The agitation is politically motivated and I think it has no impact on the polls. There are only 2 per cent farmers misled by leftists and other political parties who are trying to disturb the peaceful environment in the state. The BJP government purchases more grains at MSP and Haryana is a better place for farmers than Punjab. The Congress government in Punjab did nothing for farmers and people have realised it.
Q: Why did many senior BJP leaders in Punjab leave the party to join other political parties?
Gautam: Some works are ambitious and such things happened during election time. It happens with all the political parties and also happens with us. We are moving ahead with our ideology and it will not change. Sometimes thoughts of individuals change and he leaves one party to join another.
Q: Who is your main opponent in Punjab ? Congress or AAP?
Gautam: We are not fighting against any one, so there is no question who is our main opponent. The BJP is fighting to serve the people of Punjab, to make a peaceful and developed Punjab. We want to make 'nasha mukt' (drugs free) and riots free Punjab.
Q: What did you say about BJP's image of urban parties and having no organisational structure in rural areas?
Gautam: There is perception in Punjab that BJP is the party of urban areas but it is not true. We have reached out to every village in the state. We have set up an organisational structure across the state. The Prime Minister's vision and work have helped to reach every village of Punjab. We are with people through 'Sewa hi Sangathan' during the peak of Covid and once again going among people through 'Sewa hi Samarpan', a campaign to be launched on September 17 on the bPrime Minister Modi's birthday. The image has been changed in the last one year and BJP presence is visible across the state.
Q: Is there any chance of reviving ties with old ally SAD?
Gautam: No, there is no chance of forming an alliance with SAD. They are one of our oldest alliance partners and they left us by walking away from the alliance. In the last one year, lots of things have changed and there is no possibility of joining hands with our old partner.
Q: Do you think the AAP's freebies will affect your poll prospect in Uttarakhand?
Gautam: People in Uttarakhand are saying it is their 'bijli' and he (Kejirwal) came from outside promising us to give it for free. People of 'Devbhoomi' and proud of their self respect, they did not want anything for free.
Instead of Kejriwal's freebies, the nationalist people of Uttarakhand are asking why he disrespected the army by demanding proof of surgical and air strikes on Pakistan. The AAP has lost credibility and there is nothing left for them in Uttarakhand. The AAP chief ministerial candidate, a former serviceman, will also not work.
Q: Do you think changing two Chief Ministers in four months has any impact on the BJP's performance?
Gautam: Changing the Chief Ministers will have no negative impact in elections. It shows that we have a number of workers with the chief ministerial qualities. We have no system of transferring power from one generation to another like (Jawaharlal) Nehru to Indira (Gandhi) to Rahul (Gandhi) to Priyanka (Gandhi). In the BJP, one worker replaces another, not like others where one family member replaces another one.
(Shashi Bhushan can be reached at shashi.b@ians.in)
--IANS
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