Senior BJP leader of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi believes that people of the poll-bound Bihar, irrespective of caste and creed, have heartily welcomed the special package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would vote for NDA in the name of development. Bihar is a mission possible for the NDA, Sushil Modi, the most recognisable face of the BJP in Bihar, who is seen as undeclared candidate for the top post, talks to Faizan Ahmad in an exclusive interview:
Q: The Assembly election is poised to be a clash between special package versus special category status.
A: We will definitely make special package an election issue. Bihar for the first time has got a tool to make big leaps. I am constantly travelling and found that people are quite happy and impressed with this package. I did not find a single person talking about special category status. In the 14th Finance Commission, the chapter of special category status to States has been closed. Even in the Raghuram Rajan report there is no mention of special status. Now this demand has no relevance. Without any special status to Bihar, investments worth Rs10 lakh crore came during the last one decade but only a meagre amount of investment could be matured because the Government failed to provide land to prospective investors. All the big companies, which had shown interest in Bihar, have gone back.
Q: Nitish Kumar and lalu Prasad are making DNA an election issue saying the PM insulted Bihari pride by questioning the DNA of the CM.
A: Go anywhere in the State and ask people about DNA and they will feign ignorance and will ask back ‘what is this’. All issues raised by Nitish have backfired.
Q: The Bihar Assembly election is likely to be Narendra Modi versus Nitish Kumar fight since the BJP has not declared its leader.
A: It is not only in Bihar but in other States like Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand, the BJP fought under the leadership of Narendra Modi and won. let’s give the BJP a chance and the party will provide a strong Government and deliver. The leadership issue will be decided after polls in consultation with other allies.
Q: Your allies lJP and RlSP are getting restive over delay in seat sharing and issuing ultimatum to BJP.
A: We share their concern. All the BJP leaders right now are engaged in Parivartan campaign and PM’s Bhagalpur rally but we are in touch with our allies. After these engagements we will sit together very soon and sort out all issues. We have three allies in Bihar and two of them (lJP and RlSP) are in Union Government. The third ally is Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha.
Q: Who will be the CM once NDA comes to powerIJ
A: The CM will be elected from the biggest party in the NDA and that is the BJP. The decision will be made by the Parliamentary Board.
Q: But one of the senior leaders of BJP Shatrughan Sinha has publicly said that lJP’s Ram Vilas Paswan could be best person to be made CM.
A: This is his personal opinion. But Paswan himself has time and again clarified that he is neither interested nor in the race. Paswan has stated that CM should be from the biggest party.
Q: How do you view the entry of Asaduddin Owaisi’s MIM in Bihar polls which held a rally in Kishanganj recentlyIJ
A: Anybody is free to contest polls. But this time, the BJP is attracting Muslims. In 2010, we fielded two Muslims and one of them won. This time we will give more tickets to Muslims.
Q: How do you say that Muslims are attracted towards BJPIJ
A: Muslims are impressed with our performance during seven years. They have watched the behaviour and performance of BJP Ministers. In the capacity as Finance Minister I financed and facilitated several minority-oriented projects like fencing of graveyards and assistance to madrassas. We are confident to get sizeable number of Muslim votes.