Senior BJP leader in Chhattisgarh and Chairman, Chhattisgarh Housing Board Subhash Rao feels that BJP will be able to form the Government in the State for the third time in a row in next month’s Assembly polls on the basis of the development the Government has carried out in past one decade.
In a candid interview with Santosh Chowdhury, Rao answers on issues ranging from development to regional politics to ticket aspirants. Here are some excerpts:
How many seats the BJP is expecting to win in ChhattisgarhIJ
It would be talking in a hurry if one says how many seats, but we would certainly say that the BJP will form the Government for the third consecutive time in Chhattisgarh with complete majority.
The party has given chance to several new faces by offering them poll tickets this time round. What had been the feedback of the party’s surveyors who had gone to various constituencies to look for the ideal candidate. Was the background of the new faces already known or a study was conducted to know about their suitability before finalising the listIJ
It is a routine process in the party. There are many people working in the party and the Assembly seats are limited. Some win polls while some lose. This is an ongoing process. There are people in many seats who are competent and are eligible. If a situation arises then the party chooses one over another.
There is a general feeling that the BJP may lose some of its seats in Bastar this time round to the Congress party’s rising pitch on Jeeram Ghati massacre of the Congress leaders by Maoists as a poll issue.
Due to Jeeram Ghati, the Congress party would benefit I don’t believe. Political parties work in their respective regions. The BJP currently has 11 seats in Bastar out of the total 12 seats. Overall, the situation is favourable for the BJP in Bastar this time too. The way the ruling BJP Government and Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh during the past 10 years have implemented policies in Bastar, the tribals have benefitted heavily.
Previously, the tribals in Bastar, due to their seasonal farming were dependent on some kind of relief for existence for three months in a year. The relief for them during the Congress rule during those three months was less which made people feed on dead animals and contaminated water which resulted in hundreds of deaths due to diahorrea.
later, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh brought the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act and after its implementation, the problem of tribal dependency on relief was removed and they are now getting nutritious food. This apart, the Government took up programmes in Bastar such as bonus distribution to farmers, paddy procurement, higher price for forest produce, new projects, extension of primary education, higher education initiatives with University formed besides opening of ITIs, Polytechnics and a livelihood college was also opened. The tribal students also got better guidance so they are now studying in IITs and NITs. This has all led to goodwill for the BJP among people of Bastar.
A large number of people from various constituencies are reaching to the State BJP headquarters in Raipur during the past several days in support of their own candidates for Assembly polls. What is the party’s view on themIJ
The BJP is in power in Chhattisgarh since Dec 2003, and it is going to the polls for people’s mandate for the third time. The people are already feeling that the BJP will form the Government for the third time on the trot. Considering this, people naturally have aspirations to contest polls. Sometimes their expectations are fulfilled and they shout Zindabad and if not, they then immediately react. It’s a routine process for any political party. We have cadres so we will make them understand and they will work for the party in the polls.
Some of the party’s ticket aspirants are upset that they did not get the ticket. What is the party doing about themIJ
There are situations like eligibility factor among others in ticket distribution. It is natural for them to get angry. For that matter, even some sitting MlAs did not get the tickets. We have faced such situation earlier too and formed the Government during the last two terms. We will get over it this time also and form the Government once again in the State.
Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh says it would be easy to compare the performances of two Governments with former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi being appointed as the Convenor of the Congress Poll Campaign Committee in the StateIJ
The Congress party has its own agenda while the BJP has its own. Jogi Ji is a senior Congess leader and everyone knows what happened during Jogi-led Congress regime. But we are seeking votes on the performance and image of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh who revolutionised the life quality of people across the 27 districts, now it’s up to people to decide.
As Chairman of Chhattisagrh Housing Board, your Board has received recognition at the national level in the housing space. Your comments.
like the State Government did good work and won faith of the people in Chhattisgarh, the Chhattisgarh Housing Board implemented projects of the Housing Department at the ground level which was not paperwork but real work. As a result, people have benefitted and they could hope to own a house at affordable prices. We have worked as per the expectation of people as Government took the implementation of housing projects as a priority in Chhattisgarh.