Search the Internet          Tips

When Rajnath Singh took over as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, barely 14 months ahead of the crucial assembly election, he was fully aware that stewardship of the country's most populous state was no bed of roses. And though many would say that Singh has succeeded in releasing Uttar Pradesh from the inertia that marked the lacklustre regime of his predecessor Ram Prakash Gupta, it is the current election that will go a long way in determining his political destiny.

Projected as the party's chief ministerial nominee -- despite the odds, both within and outside his party -- Singh is confident of pulling through with a majority in the 403-member assembly. He tells Sharat Pradhan how he hopes to strike the magic figure. Excerpts:

How do you propose to ride over the odds that lie before you -- both from within and outside your party?

First of all let me tell you that there are no odds from within my party, we are all working towards a common goal -- of re-installing a BJP-led government together with our allies. I do not see a situation where others have any chance of even getting close to forming a government.

The poll surveys have predicted a drastic fall in the BJP tally and the exit polls too do not seem to give any great edge to your party. What then gives you that confidence?

Well, you are talking about the initial poll surveys. Why don't you look at the ones carried out later? The exit polls too go in our favour.

You are willing to happily believe the poll surveys and exit polls predicting a smooth sail for the BJP alliance, but condemn the ones that do not see such prospects for your party.

I know my party and our allies, and see no reason to believe anything other than a clear mandate for this combination.

Do you mean to say that you refuse to believe the common perception that it is going to be a hung assembly?

Absolutely! I am confident that the BJP and its allies will get a clear mandate to provide good and stable governance to the state.

What makes you think that UP's voters are voting for your alliance?

Because we alone can provide a stable government. Haven't we proved this by running our government for a full term? People have seen how the state has improved on all fronts, so they are bound to give us another chance.

Are you referring to the kind of stability you provided, by making all kinds of compromises -- whether on criminalisation, or corruption, or on extravagance?

Well, I do not deny that certain compromises had to be made last time after it was found that a hung verdict had disallowed the formation of any government for the first six months; but we can assure you that such a situation will not arise now.

If you claim to keep away from indulging in horse-trading, then should one look forward to a post-poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party?

I have clarified time and again, but somehow you all insist on forcing me to repeat this: the question of any kind of post-poll alliance does not arise. We will form a government along with our pre-poll alliance partners alone.

Don't you think you are being overconfident? After all, even your party's top brass, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, do not seem to be so sure of retaining power in UP.

They have never stated anything like that because they are also aware that I am only talking on the basis of ground realities, there is not a part of the state that I have not visited. I have addressed 150-odd public meetings. I am aware of the common man's appreciation of the working of my government.

What are your views on Ayodhya, specially in the light of the current buildup by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad?

The prime minister has made it loud and clear that the verdict of the courts will be final, unless an out-of-court settlement is thrashed out through negotiations.

Don't you treat the VHP's stand on the construction of the temple as defiance of not only the Constitution but also as a threat to the very foundations of our democratic system? And if they go ahead after their deadline of March 15, will this not be taken as anti-national activity?

Nobody will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. I am not worried about anybody's threats. If it comes to that we know how to handle it.

Does the government have any plan to concede the VHP's demand to hand over the 'undisputed' land in Ayodhya to them?

The prime minister has already clarified that the very question of 'disputed' or 'undisputed' had been referred to the Union law ministry, so no further step can be taken without the ministry's opinion on the issue.

What special plans do you have for the state, in case you actually manage to fulfil your dream of holding the reins of governance once again?

Minimising corruption will be on top of my list of priorities. I will ensure desired changes in the existing systems of the government. I firmly believe that mere policing and punitive actions cannot curb this menace.

What about the BJP's branding as a communal party?

I consider it false and baseless propaganda by the opposition -- Samajwadi Party, Congress and BSP -- who in my eyes were the real communalists. Give me one example of a communal riot during our regime, or one example of discrimination on communal or religious lines -- we don't believe in blowing our own trumpet.

We revived the religious processions of Shias and Sunnis that had been banned during a Congress regime and continued by Mulayam Singh Yadav. If you look into the BJP's track record on secularism with an open mind, perhaps you will realise that we are the only ones who have not treated minorities as a commodity or a vote bank. Go and ask a Muslim how he feels about our concern towards the plight of Haj pilgrims, for whom we not only started direct flights from Lucknow, but also created unique facilities that were unprecedented in the country.

More From Sharat Pradhan

The Complete Coverage Ask Our Reporters Mail Us Your Response