Pratap Sarangi, a committed ideologue, who is in his mid-sixties, is a politician with a difference. Today, he is very much in the news as the speculations are rife that there is going to be change of guard in the State BJP before the forthcoming general elections. Sarangi opened his innings to the State Assembly as a BJP member in 2004 and subsequently got reelected in 2009. However, he lost the Parliament polls in 2014. An eminently eligible bachelor of his times, Sarangi abandoned all lucrative temptations and joined public life. Politics for him is not a means to an end but an end achieved through unalloyed means for ushering in a Ram Rajya. His ancestral, traditional mud house with a thatched roof over head against the implicit backdrop of Nilgiri Hills bears ample testimony to his character. A politician with a vertical dimension with no horizontal worldly possessions to this day, the number of his species is dwindling into extinction. In today’s rank consumerist culture and godless materialism, his life is an open book as he believes in simple living and high thinking, for which he is endeared to people of Baleswar district. In an interview to The Pioneer, Sarangi spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at his Karyalaya at Nilgiri in Baleswar district.

There are wide speculations that there is going to be a change of guard in the State BJPIJ Is it trueIJ

I have no information.

What are your party’s chances in the 2019 general elections in the countryIJ

My party is the biggest in the world. My party has formed Government in most of the States. My party’s strong presence is in the entire country has compelled all opposition forces to unite. The recent no-confidence motion in the Parliament by the opposition has turned out a big failure and they could not cross 125 votes. The nation almost rejected them. Narendra Modi’s leadership has been recognised by the entire world. India feels glorified under his leadership. Prestige and honour of our country has been thousand times increased in the world stage. Unlike 1962’s Indian retreat, this time China was forced to retreat in Doclam. India’s defence capacity has abnormally increased. Our growth rate has been quite satisfactory. Development has been very fast. The various public welfare ‘Make in India’ schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala, PM Jeevanjyoti Bima, Atal Pension Yojana, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samrudhi, Mudra Yojana, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, Soubhagya Yojana, etc., have developed the standard of living of the common people and created new hope and aspiration among the youths for rebuilding of the nation. So my party’s chances of winning the 2019 elections are quite bright while the combined opposition due to their vested interests, lack of vision, lack of clarity in their goal and means is not visible in the national horizon.

What’s the BJP’s electoral chances in OdishaIJ

In Odisha, my party’s growth has been very substantial during these days. In the last panchayat elections, the BJP won nearly 10 times more seats than the previous election despite all illegal and fraudulent means adopted by the ruling party. Anti-incumbency against the Naveen Government will be a deciding factor. The Congress has almost disappeared and there is very least chance for its revival. People are fascinated by the developmental programmes of the Modi Government. During the BJD regime, Odisha has become no. 1 in poverty and corruption. No irrigation project, malnutrition, farmers’ suicide, starvation death, no water supply to 98% people, no electricity to 40% people, no food to many people, lakhs of people, liquors everywhere and rampant corruption, looting the people through chit funds by BJD leaders, mining scam, miserable dependence of Odisha on other States to meet the necessity of vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish, meat, oilseed – all this speaks about Odisha now.

Is there any chance of a BJP-BJD combine either by concession or compromise in 2019IJ

There is no chance for this in the 2019 elections.

How far is Amit Shah true about his claim of 120+ Assembly seatsIJ

Amit Shah’s magic number of winning 120 seats shall be a reality, not a figment of imagination. Our workers at the grassroots level are working hard and acting in a catalytic way. The youths of Odisha have been inspire by Modi’s vision and unique leadership. Many schemes, Rs 50 crore for the Car Festival and other projects are being sanctioned by the Center for a speedy development of Odisha. We are hopeful that Shah’s magic number shall be a reality.

How far the rival sections in BJP will come closer to face the acid test in 2019IJ

The BJP has faced many acid tests and by divine grace has come out successful. When the Bharatiya Jan Sangh had been formed, everyone laughed at it. But it became an established national party with a different outlook. When its former president Dr SP Mookerjee died, others thought the party was gone. But the party emerged vibrant. When in 1980 the BJP got only two seats in the Parliament, people thought it is lost. But the party now got absolute majority. This party could not die and is sure to spread the ray of light so long as it holds to its life principle as set by Pt  Deen Dayal Upadhyaya in his lectures on Integral Humanism (Ekata Manava Darshan) and Cultural Nationalism (Sanskrutika Rastravada). The BJP will pass all acid tests; and soon, we will see the county’s eastern horizon glorified with the ‘lotus’ blooming.

 What about the BJP’s much-talked-about uniformed civil codeIJ

The BJP is marching ahead in the right direction in a positive way. Rome was not built in a day. Revoking the talaq system is a revolutionary achievement. We should allow more time to the BJP Government to promulgate uniform civil code some day.

What about the BJP Government’s annulment of this special status to KashmirIJ

The special status to Kashmir was a Himalayan blunder committed by the Nehru Government. Although it was a temporary provision yet no Government annulled it for fear of losing votes. This is one form of appeasement, but the BJP Government is committed to national interest. But we should not be in a hurry. Debates are on throughout the country; and sooner or later, a consensus shall be arrived at.

What are your chances of coming back either to Assembly or entering Parliament in 2019IJ

My contesting of election depends upon  my party. I am sure that I shall come out victorious either in the Assembly or in the Parliamentary elections.