‘NDA to perform better than in 2014 Lok Sabha election’

PATNA: The remaining four phases of the Lok Sabha elections are critical for the BJP as its candidates are contesting 15 of the remaining 26 seats in Bihar. BJP national general secretary and election incharge in Bihar Bhupender Yadav talks to Piyush Tripathi on several crucial issues for the party. Excerpts:How was the BJP and NDA performance in Bihar in the first three phases?We have received unprecedented support from voters in the first three phases. In fact, we are also winning those seats which we could not in the 2014 general election. For instance, NDA is going to win Bhagalpur, Banka, Araria, Madhepura, Supaul and Katihar with big margins. What steps are being taken to maximize the performance of BJP and NDA in the remaining four phases?We have a strong coalition of BJP, JD(U) and LJP in Bihar and all of us our campaigning jointly. We are certain to win all the seats in the remaining four phases. You are talking about coalition partners. How has been the organizational support from allies?It has been very good. We are holding joint public meetings with coordination at ground level. We are getting its benefits in terms of mass support for our nominees.How has been the overall strategy of BJP and NDA in Bihar? Would there be any changes in it for the remaining phases? Workers and functionaries of all three parties held meetings in the constituencies before the elections and chalked out programmes. Senior leaders of the alliance partners like Amit Shah and CM Nitish Kumar are holding public meetings in the constituencies. Leaders of all three alliance partners are giving due attention to all seats. And there would be no change in the strategy as we have been successful on that in the last three phases. How many more joint public meeting of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar will be held in Bihar?A joint public meeting of PM and CM will be held at Muzaffarpur on April 30 and another in Valmikinagar on May 4. The information of similar public meetings in the subsequent phases will be announced accordingly. Do you think the exit of former allies like Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi as well as rebel MPs like Shatrughan Sinha and Kirti Jha Azad from NDA and BJP has any impact on the alliance performance in Bihar?There is no impact. In fact, we are stronger than ever and holding our ground with units of all three parties working aggressively up to the booth level. Has the BJP been able to make a dent in the traditional Muslim-Yadav vote bank of RJD in Bihar?As I already said, we are going to win several seats which we could not last time. Secondly, any caste is not the personal property of a single family. Besides, the infighting in RJD’s first family cannot be the fight of an entire community. This election is being held when new generation of political workers has emerged, but none of them is getting space in the RJD. BJP, on the other hand, believes in Sabka sath sabka vishwas and we are getting support from all sections of the society. What was the ground for BJP to share equal number of seats with JD(U) even though the latter has only two MPs in the current Lok Sabha? You also ceded five sitting seats to JD(U) and LJP?JD(U) and BJP have been working as natural partners for quite long. Apart from seat-sharing ratio in previous general elections (25 of JDU and 15 of BJP in 2009 and 26 of JDU and 14 of BJP in 2004), the performance in 2015 Bihar assembly elections was also taken into consideration. The final decision was taken after the consent of all three parties in the NDA. JD(U) differs from BJP on several issues, including Article 370, Ram Mandir and triple talaq. What is your stand on this?All parties have their own political outlook. However, democratic values, good governance and protest against dynasty and corruption are our common issues on which we have worked together for a long time in Bihar and we would continue working together in future as well. What is the BJP forte in this election?The biggest factor is PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, followed by successful execution of welfare schemes for the poor and the downtrodden and creating an environment of hope and trust in the country. BJP, along with its allies, has worked extensively for strengthening democracy, cooperative federalism, reforms and economic inclusion of the common man. As a result, India’s economy has turned from ‘fragile five’ to ‘top five’ and the country has also improved in the ranking of ease-of-doing business. How do you see Mahagathbandhan in Bihar? It’s a failure. They have no vision, no coordination. A Congress leader has fielded his son from another party (Akhilesh Prasad Singh’s son Akash Kumar Singh is contesting from Purvi Champaran). Two main leaders of the main party in Mahagathbandhan — Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav — are fielding their own candidates in the same constituencies. Congress should also answer to people for its compromises with CPI(M) through RJD. There is a weird situation that Congress is fighting against CPI(M) in Kerala but getting support in Bihar. Thus, it is not clear who is fighting for whom, against whom and for what. It is rather a Mahamilawat.What do you think about Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s ambition for PM’s post?I don’t see such possibilities as of now. Congress won’t be able to win even those many seats which it had in 2014. RJD chief Lalu Prasad in jail is how good or bad for the NDA?It is a judicial process. Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what would have happened if Lalu had not been in jail. The important issue is who can expedite development in Bihar and lead good governance. The BJP-JD(U)-LJP alliance has succeeded on these fronts. Lalu has written in his book that Nitish wanted to return to Mahagathbandhan. What do you say? How can we rely on a book which has been written for political reasons? It is a political document, how can it be trusted.Do you think that the ongoing elections can be considered as a referendum on the NDA government formed in July 2017 in Bihar after Nitish quit the Mahagathbandhan?This election is for the policies and work done by PM Narendra Modi. Certainly, we are a strong coalition; hence, we will be successful in the coming assembly elections in Bihar as well.