Samrat Choudhary at Idea Exchange: Ram Mandir dream fulfilled, Modi now has only one agenda, that of development

When my mother passed away last year, I started to wear the pagri in her honour — it is actually called muretha in my region and is a symbol of labour. Yes, I had said that I would take it off only when I had removed Nitish Kumar from office. But Nitish Kumar did resign and joined hands with the BJP.

However, the BJP is like my second mother now and I am proud that it made me the state party president, leader of the legislative party and deputy chief minister. The party has continuously honoured me and made me understand that the country comes first, then the party, and finally the individual. That’s why I will go to Ayodhya, unwrap my muretha at the feet of Lord Ram and get tonsured.

Liz Mathew: There was some opposition against bringing the BJP state unit and the JD (U) together, which was later resolved. Are there any regrets about this equation or is everything fine?

This alliance is for the progress of Bihar. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is synonymous with corruption, sand mafia, criminals and was trying to propagate goonda raj. There was anarchy in Bihar. We didn’t want jungle raj in Bihar, we wanted development. Nitish Kumar is the only chief minister of Bihar who has worked for the development of the state. Yes, his political decisions kept changing, there are qualms about that. We have had bittersweet experiences with him but he prioritised good governance. I wasn’t in politics before 1995. When Nitish Kumar, George Fernandes and my father (Shakuni Choudhary) formed the Samata Party, I had to face the atrocities perpetrated by Lalu Yadav. I was hit by lathis and sent to jail just because I was the son of a high-profile political leader. Essentially, I went to jail for a movement of which Nitish Kumar was a big part. That’s how I started my political career, from the ground up.

Liz Mathew: Who will benefit more from this alliance, the BJP or JD (U)?

Bihar should benefit. It doesn’t matter if the BJP benefits or not.

Liz Mathew: Have seat-sharing negotiations for the Lok Sabha elections begun?

This is a natural alliance, which has been in place since 1996. First, there was the Samata Party, then it became JD (U). Therefore, there isn’t any contentious issue between us and we will get together to distribute the seats. In 2019, we won 39 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats. This time, we will work towards winning all 40 seats.

Liz Mathew: Will there be an equal distribution of seats like the last time?

This will be decided by the party’s parliamentary board.

Nitish Kumar is the only CM of Bihar who has worked for development. Yes, his political decisions kept changing. We have had bittersweet experiences with him but he prioritised good governance

Santosh Singh: Nitish Kumar has been demanding a nationwide caste-based survey for a while. Now that he is with you, do you support his demand?

I am the state BJP president and the deputy CM. The BJP’s Bihar unit fully supports the demand for a caste-based survey in the state. The last time we were in power, we passed a resolution to conduct the survey. But whether it can be done at a nationwide level or not, only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can tell.

Santosh Singh: How will you accommodate all of your allies? Is there a fear that some of them might leave you?

Everyone knows that if you want to win elections in Bihar, you have to be with the BJP. When there is a natural alliance, people will support it. Last time, the Opposition didn’t get seats, so no question of fear.

Liz Mathew: What will be the issue for Lok Sabha elections, Ram Mandir or development?

The dream of Ram Mandir has now been fulfilled. Now, there is only one agenda of Modiji that will be implemented. And that is development, development and development.

The BJP’s Bihar unit supports the demand for a caste survey in the state. The last time we were in power, we had passed a resolution. Whether it can be done nationwide or not, only the PM can tell

Deeptiman Tiwary: Does the BJP accept that it doesn’t have any candidate for chief minister other than Nitish Kumar?

This depends on the will of the people, let them decide. If BJP gets a full majority, it will implement its agenda of development in Bihar.

Deeptiman Tiwary: If Nitish Kumar continues to be the chief minister, how will people believe that you have the confidence to form a full majority government?

The BJP lost the 2015 Assembly elections after JD(U) left the alliance in 2013. But in 2017, Nitish Kumar came back to us. This time also, he has come back. He asked for support and we agreed because we believe that jungle raj cannot return to Bihar and we need to work for the state’s development. Between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav, the BJP will always choose Nitish Kumar as he has been the symbol of good governance in Bihar… Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family live only for themselves and nobody else.

Deeptiman Tiwary: It is believed that BJP can win more seats in Bihar if it goes alone in the Lok Sabha elections. Now that Nitish Kumar has returned, the party will have to give up more seats. Why will you absorb this loss?

There is no doubt that we can win more seats. But we don’t want any Opposition party to win any seats. The INDIA alliance won’t be able to open its account in the state.

Harikishan Sharma: Do you think that no other leader can rise in Bihar under the shadow of Nitish Kumar?

Every leader in the Bihar BJP unit is going to lead the state. Bihar will progress. The alliance will continue. We are making efforts to ensure that the NDA forms the government in Bihar in 2025.

Liz Mathew: Nitish Kumar had said that the 2020 Assembly election was his last. What will happen to the JD(U) once he retires? Do you think it will merge with the BJP?

Every party is independent. Nitish Kumar has been working in his own style. He has been a political party worker since 1977. It is up to him to decide.

Liz Mathew: In national politics, there has been a lot of talk about dynastic rule. Given your father was an MP and MLA, and your mother was an MLA, what do you have to say about you being a legacy holder as well?

Dynastic rule is burdened by legacy. Nepotism is when your father holds you by the finger. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav’s father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, made him the chief minister. Tejashwi Yadav became deputy chief minister after votes were cast in the name of Lalu Prasad Yadav. My father was a Lok Sabha MP. He worked at the grassroots for years among his people. However, for the past 14 years, my father has renounced active politics. I have begun as an ordinary political worker since 1995, struggled through many challenges but have not used my father’s name. I will never do that. People voted for Modiji and Nitishji. Those who work hard as party workers will benefit and get rewarded in the BJP. One thing should be clear: Nobody from my family (except me) is in the BJP.

Santosh Singh: Will the BJP have its own chief ministerial face in 2025? Or will it be Nitish Kumar?

This is a coalition government, so it’s important to take everyone on board while projecting a face. We need both

JD (U) and BJP to be on the same page.

Liz Mathew: After the resounding victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP state unit still depends on Modi as the face. Why hasn’t it been able to stand on its own feet till now?

The time when BJP will rule Bihar will come but now the BJP and JD (U) will together win over 200 seats in the Assembly elections. We are confident that we will comfortably form the government.

Liz Mathew: There’s a perception that in Bihar, elections can be won only on the basis of caste engineering and not development?

I don’t disagree that caste has a role to play but we will get votes mainly due to the development done by Modiji.

Liz Mathew: In various states, Opposition leaders are facing a plethora of cases by the CBI and ED, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren being the most recent example. Do you think that only Opposition leaders are corrupt?

Then look at what the Congress did when it was in power at the Centre. It dismissed 86 state governments and imposed President’s rule. The BJP has not done this. The Congress thinks that just because it has committed sins, other parties are doing the same. Tejashwi Yadav was a crorepati when he was one-and-a-half years old without doing anything. Similarly, Soren as CM wrested all the mining leases. How can you do this?

Modi is considered a great leader by many because he doesn’t do anything for himself. He does everything for the nation. When the GST (Goods and Services Tax) was introduced, many people were upset. But today it is widely acknowledged that the GST has cleaned up businesses and eliminated dirty money.

Liz Mathew: Is everyone in the ruling party really so clean?

There is the judiciary to decide that and it is available to Opposition leaders for appeals. There should be a proper investigation in every case. In the fodder scam, the Patna High Court ruled against Lalu Prasad Yadav though he was in power at the time. Courts are independent and go by evidence. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has, in fact, accused the BJP of the Rafale scam but the courts have not ruled in his favour yet.

Liz Mathew: Why did Modi select unknown faces as CMs despite the fact that the BJP won comfortably in the recent Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan?

We contest elections under the leadership of Modi. The party respects each and every worker and gives them a chance. In Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan worked for a very long time…now it is Mohan Yadav’s turn. In Rajasthan, a first-time MLA was given a chance to become the CM. The BJP believes in taking everybody along.

Harikrishan Sharma: What are the major goals you would like to achieve in Bihar and would you seek the Centre’s help?

First is infrastructure. We need international airports, roads and have to improve living standards of the rural population. At 11 per cent, Bihar has the lowest urbanisation rate in India. Second is industry. We have a talent pool but haven’t been able to galvanise it for development.

During 10 years of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre, Bihar had got one lakh crore. Modiji has given Bihar 7.5 lakh crore already. The Centre gives over 1.9 lakh crore in the budget to Bihar.

Deeptiman Tiwary: Last time when your government fell, the two issues which stood out were inflation and unemployment. What message will you give to the people before the 2024 polls so that they can keep the faith?

Providing jobs is our agenda. During the 2020 elections, we had promised that we would provide 10 lakh jobs and had even announced 1.75 lakh posts for teachers. However, Nitish Kumar broke away and our government fell before we could complete our promises. Inflation is not an issue in Bihar but development is. We lack a market for many things. We are a landlocked state which further adds to our problems of accessing the market.

Deeptiman Tiwary: How will you accommodate both the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) led by Chirag Paswan and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party led by Pashupati Kumar Paras?

This is a familial fight in which we have no role. However, we have a political coalition with both the parties and will try to keep everyone together.

Santosh Singh: Do you think Prashant Kishor will become an important stakeholder in the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar?

All this depends totally on the voters. On the one hand, you have a person who has zero experience of ground-level politics but has so much money that he can enter politics. Think about it, we’ve been in power for 10 years. We spend Rs 1,000 on a booth…Prashant Kishor spends Rs 20,000. Where does all this money come from? This money is being used to weaken the BJP. Look at his advertisements everywhere.

Santosh Singh: You have a revenue of just Rs 34,000 crore. Nitish Kumar recently announced that Rs 2 lakh will be provided to poor families. This would cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore annually. Don’t you think with such low revenue, you should let go of populist measures?

The scheme is for 84 lakh poor families who have been left behind. What’s wrong in supporting the poor? The revenue is the people’s money and it should be used for their betterment and growth. The BJP has no issues with this. The Central government will help us. About Rs 1.35 lakh crore will come from the Central government revenue. The Centre will give us Rs 2 lakh crore.