‘Oppn is leader-less and program-less’
STRAIGHT TALK Minister says he is keen to push India’s digital economy to a value of $1 trillion, with $500 billion being the aim by 2025; the govt’s electronics policy will help create millions of jobs
the seats that Nitish Kumar and Ram Vilas Paswan will get in alliance with the BJP?
That work is on. Allow us to handle politics in our own way. You first say apka alliance hoga ki nahi hoga (whether your alliance will happen)?
When it happens, you ask seat banta ki nahi banta (have you distributed seats)? When we have distributed that, you ask kaun si seat ladenge
(which are the seats you will fight)? Have some patience. We will handle it.
The BJP got a majority in 2014. Do you think BJP can return to power with full majority in 2019?.
100%. India of 2019 is not the India of 90s. Indian voter is mature and knows whom to vote for in parliamentary, assembly and municipal elections.
Because of Narendra Modi, his leadership, his persona, his gravitas, his performance and the BJP and the NDA; people loathe the idea of having four to 11-month prime ministers. Modi could do so much, because he is a leader with authority. The authority flowed from the majority he commands. Who is the leader of the maha-milawat on the other side?
The BJP lost three states to the Congress. Will the opposition alliance be a challenge for the BJP?
We had more votes than the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. In spite of the convention politics of Mohan Bagan and East Bengal in Rajasthan (a reference to electors preference to vote out an incumbent government), we gave a good fight.
I am willing to acknowledge that we were defeated in Chhattisgarh. But you take all three states and the surveys; people also said they will vote for Modi as PM.
In case of UP, though there is an agreement, how far it will relate on the ground is a debatable question. They (the opposition) are leader-less and program-less. Their only common agenda - Modi hatao (remove Modi).
Do you see any sign of revival for the Congress?
I can not comment on that. Yes they have won three states, but will they will be an effective player in the Lok Sabha? I don’t think so. You must understand that Congress will have to bring back their basic support base in India, which has been washed away.w Congress is a fringe player in Bihar, minor player in UP and Maharashtra and finished in Bengal.