BJP’s national spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar had to use all the persuasive skills at his command in the recent past to stitch up an electoral tie-up between the BJP and TDP. He not only had to soften the resistance from a section of Telangana BJP leaders but also had to do some hard bargaining with TDP leaders to seal the deal in Seemandhra and Telangana. He speaks on the prospects of the alliance, plans for Seemandhra and Telangana and other issues in an interview here. Excerpts:
You have been described as the architect of the BJP-TDP alliance. What is your reading of the situation after touring Seemandhra and Telangana. Do you think the alliance will perform as per your expectations?
I have been fortunate to have worked on alliances in Maharashtra, a little bit in Haryana and negotiated in Rajasthan. Unless there are two parties which can benefit from each other, an alliance does not happen. So in the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the alliance with Telugu Desam Party is a big step forward—that has strengthened the National Democratic Alliance and hopefully our expectation, that with this combination 25-30 MPs from erstwhile Andhra Pradesh to Lok Sabha and win both the States is realisable. The four rallies of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday proved the popular support for the alliance.
Was the crowd not less at Hyderabad rally?
It was an election rally in Hyderabad and there was very good crowd. Actually, LB Stadium was given to us two days before and the crowd was very good for an election rally. Practically whole districts thronged at Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar rallies.
Political observers and surveys have indicated that YSRCP is having an edge over others in Seemandhra and Congress and TRS to be front runners in Telangana. Do you think the situation is going to change in the coming days?
The situation has dramatically changed after the BJP-TDP alliance. What the surveys reflected the situation before the alliance was sealed. But now we are very much confident. TDP-BJP alliance has a 10 per cent lead over Jagan in Seemandhra. Therefore, we will win absolute majority in Seemandhra. In Telangana also, the scene is changing on a daily basis. Now people are talking of development, people are voting for future. They understand future lies with Mr. Modi. They want to sync Telangana development with that of the country.
BJP played a key role in formation of Telangana. Do you think that the party has been able to convey this message to the people?
Both TDP and BJP stand to ensure faster development of both the regions. We have a plan of action in Telangana. We want to increase job opportunities in Telangana and Seemandhra through large-scale public-private investment in infrastructure and skill development. Mind you, infrastructure means irrigation and housing also- these are employment multipliers. We will ensure job reach and growth and not jobless rickety growth which the UPA presented.
Your critics have said that BJP’s campaign is centred around a single individual and not on issues?
It is not true. He is our leader and any campaign centres around its leader. The Congress is afraid to put Rahul Gandhi as its leader because he can’t survive the defeat. On the other hand, we have presented our leader, who has a vision and mission and not commission like the Congress.
Around 75 professors and academics of Indian origin in Britain have issued an open letter saying the idea of Modi in power fills them with dread and that they were concerned at implications for democracy, pluralism and human rights in India. What is your comment?
This is part of Modi-hate campaign launched 12 years ago. But every time, they launch it, they lose it very badly. People want a decisive leadership and the PM-CM team to work.
You have been described as the architect of the BJP-TDP alliance. What is your reading of the situation after touring Seemandhra and Telangana. Do you think the alliance will perform as per your expectations?
I have been fortunate to have worked on alliances in Maharashtra, a little bit in Haryana and negotiated in Rajasthan. Unless there are two parties which can benefit from each other, an alliance does not happen. So in the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the alliance with Telugu Desam Party is a big step forward—that has strengthened the National Democratic Alliance and hopefully our expectation, that with this combination 25-30 MPs from erstwhile Andhra Pradesh to Lok Sabha and win both the States is realisable. The four rallies of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday proved the popular support for the alliance.
Was the crowd not less at Hyderabad rally?
It was an election rally in Hyderabad and there was very good crowd. Actually, LB Stadium was given to us two days before and the crowd was very good for an election rally. Practically whole districts thronged at Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar rallies.
Political observers and surveys have indicated that YSRCP is having an edge over others in Seemandhra and Congress and TRS to be front runners in Telangana. Do you think the situation is going to change in the coming days?
The situation has dramatically changed after the BJP-TDP alliance. What the surveys reflected the situation before the alliance was sealed. But now we are very much confident. TDP-BJP alliance has a 10 per cent lead over Jagan in Seemandhra. Therefore, we will win absolute majority in Seemandhra. In Telangana also, the scene is changing on a daily basis. Now people are talking of development, people are voting for future. They understand future lies with Mr. Modi. They want to sync Telangana development with that of the country.
BJP played a key role in formation of Telangana. Do you think that the party has been able to convey this message to the people?
Both TDP and BJP stand to ensure faster development of both the regions. We have a plan of action in Telangana. We want to increase job opportunities in Telangana and Seemandhra through large-scale public-private investment in infrastructure and skill development. Mind you, infrastructure means irrigation and housing also- these are employment multipliers. We will ensure job reach and growth and not jobless rickety growth which the UPA presented.
Your critics have said that BJP’s campaign is centred around a single individual and not on issues?
It is not true. He is our leader and any campaign centres around its leader. The Congress is afraid to put Rahul Gandhi as its leader because he can’t survive the defeat. On the other hand, we have presented our leader, who has a vision and mission and not commission like the Congress.
Around 75 professors and academics of Indian origin in Britain have issued an open letter saying the idea of Modi in power fills them with dread and that they were concerned at implications for democracy, pluralism and human rights in India. What is your comment?
This is part of Modi-hate campaign launched 12 years ago. But every time, they launch it, they lose it very badly. People want a decisive leadership and the PM-CM team to work.
