BJP seems to be on cloud nine after a survey predicted that Bharatiya Janata Party would emerge as number one party in Uttar Pradesh in 2017 assembly elections. But the BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya does not seems to be happy with this prediction. “Mind my words BJP will win over 300 seats and our rivals will be reduced to less than 100 seats,” Maurya said. In a tete- a- tete with The Pioneer Maurya said Akhilesh Yadav might be luring youth with smart phones but BJP will give them jobs, prosperity and a better life.
Excerpt of the interview:
Q: You seems to be confidant about BJP’s victory. What’s the secret of this confidenceIJ
A: What I am saying is because of hard work being put in by the party workers. WE have our programmes which start from districts and percolates down up to block level. We have also planned over 10,000 Yuva sammelans, meeting of the mahila morchas and other frontal organizations. We had held Bichra warg sammelans and in future will hold the same. So all the frontal organizations are working as well–oiled machine and are taking the ideology and principles of the party upto village level.
Q: Point taken that you are building organization but what would be election agenda.
A: The BJP will concentrate of Narendra Modi’s achievements and highlight failure of state government. look what is happening in Uttar Pradesh. lawlessness is at its peak. Development is limited to only Saifai and its adjoining area. The Government is concerned about development of people of particular caste. Instead – the NDA Government has launched many welfare schemes. We will go to people and tell them about Ujjawala Yojana. Can you believe over 30 lakh poor women have got free gas cylinders under this scheme in UP. The target is 42 lakh. We will also educate people about Jan Dhan Yojana and Mudra Yojana. We will tell them about electrification of villages. Schemes are many and we will tell people as how India has benefitted under Modi rule.
Q: Won’t you agree that under Ujjawala Yojana pary MPs were supposed to attend functions but have failed to do so leading to a big chasm in the delivery system.
A: Your information is wrong. BJP MPs and MlAs are attending almost all the programmes where gas connections are being given free. Sometimes they cannot attend Ujjawala programme because of their pre-engagement. As I am MP from Phulpur but is not able to attend these programmes, this does not mean I am ignoring this scheme.
Q: Who is your rival in this election - Samajwadi party or BSP.
A: Our fight is with Samajwadi party. Bahujan Samaj Party is in third place and Congress on distant fourth place.
Q: Samajwadi partyIJ Despite what has happened in the family you still see SP as your rival not BSP.
A: Mayawati is finished. The dalits have started deserting her. You have seen yourself the exodus in the party. People are questioning that she has time to go to Una in Gujarat and meet dalit families but has no times to meet dalit families in Uttar Pradesh who have been persecuted by government agencies.And what has happened in Samajwadi Party is their internal matter I will not comment on that except that the leader who cannot keep his family united cannot bring prosperity in the state.
Q: You talked about Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav – they are CM’s face of their respective parties. Who will be BJP’s CM’s faceIJ Will party announce CM candidate before going to pollsIJ
A: It is not mandatory for the party to project someone as Chief Minister before election. We have many leaders in UP who have the potential to become CM but the final call will be taken by central leadership. I repeat once again we will fight election on the basis of our organization not on the basis of people whom we project as Chief Minister.
Q: An organization recently carried out a survey and projected BJP as number one party. But according to that survey you will fall short of forming government.
A: That survey is wrong. During last lok Sabha election BJP was first in 337 assembly constituencies and we will maintain that lead in 2017 too. As per our survey SP will get around 40 seats, BSP around 30 seats and Congress will be able to win 1 or 2 seats at the most. The BJP will form the government.
Q: There are large number of sitting legislators from other parties who have joined BJP. Will all of them be given ticketIJ There are reports of disquiet in the party over inclusion of these leaders.
A: These sitting MlAs have joined unconditionally. Only those candidates will be given tickets who can win elections. There is no resentment in the party over these law makers joining BJP. We have taken our leaders of that area into confidence before law makers from other parties join BJP. Only those law makers have joined BJP who have not put any pre-condition. Otherwise there is a long list of MlAs who want to join our party.
Q: Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has promised Smart phone for the youth of Samajwadi Party returns to power. Will BJP promise something like this for the youthIJ
A: The BJP will not go for any gimmick like Akhilesh Yadav is doing. The SP can promise smart phones but BJP will promise development to youth. It will promise their job and prosperity of the state. We will make youth financially so strong that they will be able to purchase smart phones of their choice.
Q: Recently Congress national vice-president Rahul Gandhi had called PM as the person who does `Khoon ka dalali’ and Akhilesh Yadav has seconded that statement. Your takeIJ
A: People will teach both Congress and Samajwadi party a lesson. They will tell these parties as who are `dalal’