Moments before filing his nomination from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and sitting Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his comments suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would retire and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would become the next PM of the country if the BJP regains power. Speaking to The Indian Express over the phone from Hamirpur, he stated, "The people are being entertained, and the BJP will benefit from the laughable comments made by the kingpins of the Delhi liquor scam." Anurag Thakur, son of former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, expressed confidence that there is anti-incumbency against the BJP neither in the country nor in his constituency of Hamirpur, from where he has been elected for the past four terms. Assembly bypolls to six seats in Himachal Pradesh will also held on June 1, simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls to all the four seats. Excerpts from an interview. Q. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal predicts that PM Narendra Modi will retire and Home Minister Amit Shah will be the next PM. What is your response to Kejriwal's prediction? Anurag Thakur: Arvind Kejriwal is the biggest liar in this country. He can say anything about anyone. He has deceived the people of Delhi and Punjab with his lies. His comments only entertain the people of this country and will benefit the BJP on June 1. I often wonder how a man like Arvind Kejriwal could be the chief minister of a place like the national capital, Delhi. Q. This is your fifth time contesting. Do you not think there is anti-incumbency against you? If not, what is your unique selling point? Anurag Thakur: The BJP does not believe in the term "anti-incumbency." My party has worked in Hamirpur and all over India. PM Narendra Modi symbolises confidence, honesty, commitment, and guarantee. PM Modi is still a factor, as in 2014 and 2019. The BJP is fighting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on the image of PM Narendra Modi and his mantra 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas or Sabka Prayas.' Yes, my USP always remains grounded. Indeed, I stay in Delhi, but I can assure you I am the most connected politician here. People know me personally, and I also know them personally. Moreover, the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency is witnessing overall development, whether in the fields of health, road construction, transportation, education, tourism, or employment. The development is a continuous process that I will take further. Q. Six Congress turncoats joined the BJP, which further allotted them tickets for the June 1 bye-elections. Many senior leaders, including former CMs Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal, raised concerns. Reports suggest people are annoyed. What is your take on this? Anurag Thakur: One thing is clear: the Congress pushed these six MLAs to take the step they did. They were all elected representatives of the public. The manner in which they were being humiliated was intolerable. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was not giving them time to meet him, and the genuine demands of the people of their constituencies were being thrown in the dustbin, etc. They came to the BJP seeing the party's culture of promoting hardworking individuals and the country's overall development. As of now, the entire BJP in Himachal Pradesh is standing with these six MLAs like a rock. The people of Himachal Pradesh will elect them. Q. Congress has fielded leaders like Anand Sharma, along with two MLAs - Vikramaditya Singh and Vinod Sultanpuri - in the Lok Sabha election, BJP rebels Capt Ranjeet Singh Rana and Rakesh Kalia in Assembly bypolls. There is a rebellion among BJP leaders, including Dr Ramlal Markanda. How do you see this? Anurag Thakur: The BJP will win all four seats in the state and 400 seats in the country. High command and senior party leaders are in touch with those who announced rebellion. I am sure that they will all be back in the party fold before June 1. The Congress government led by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has failed to deliver anything since coming into power in December 2022. Q. You have been in Delhi for a long time. When will you return to state politics? Anurag Thakur: Anurag Thakur is happy wherever he stays. It is the party that decides the role of its workers. Wherever the party keeps me, I will stay there.
