Sushma Swaraj is the gung-ho desi beti who has taken on the videshi bahu in an election marred, to her chagrin, by lowbrow sniping initiated by her own people. After attending nearly 100 public meetings, a visibly tired but elated Swaraj spoke to SWATI CHATURVEDI on the campaign in Bellary, which she sees as her personal Kargil. Excerpts from the interview: Don't you think that this campaign has plumbed new depths with Pramod Mahajan's infamous allusion to Monica Lewinsky and the remark by George Fernandes?Well, I have the personal satisfaction of fighting Sonia myself but, despite the intense campaigning I did, the Congress did not object to any of my remarks. I never let the election get personal, nor did I ever let it cross the bounds of propriety. I don't agree with all this. A certain decency has to be maintained in politics. As far as the Monica Lewinsky remark is concerned, the next day Pramodji clarified that he had never said it, but also expressedregret if anyone was hurt. After that, I feel there is no point in keeping the controversy alive. As for what George said, I feel that it was an avoidable remark. I think the BJP should talk about Sonia's inexperience - the fact that she has not even worked a day in a municipality. But nothing about her two children. Is Bellary the beginning of your comeback trail, after having been out in the cold?Bellary is not a simple election. For me, it was like Kargil. The killer instinct overtook me. I had decided not to contest in ordinary circumstances since ordinarily a soldier can ask for leave. But when a Kargil happens, when there are foreign intruders, one has to take a stand. So I had told my workers ki mein veergati prapt karnein nahi ayi hoon, vijay pataka phahrane ayi hoon (I have not come to be martyred but to win). What next? Does your nomination signal your rehabilitation in the BJP?Well, all times are not alike, neither in life nor in politics. There are ups anddowns. Rather, it becomes monotonous if things are always good. So when people tell me that I have made a `comeback', I am surprised. Do you have any residual hurt about the unhappy Delhi chapter and the attacks by Madan Lal Khurana and Sahib Singh Verma?Let's leave it. We should forget past grievances and begin anew. If someone wants to forget, why remind them? So many things happen which are better forgotten. I believe in forgetting the unhappy chapters. I do not want to make old wounds bleed. Are you the BJP's fire-fighter, always being pressed into service in impossible situations?I think that's great. At least the BJP believes in a woman's competence. It is not a small thing that women in the BJP are remembered in times of crisis. I think all women in the country should take pride in this. Was Bellary a David versus Goliath contest?Well, I felt jaise koi Devi shakti (divine power) had this plan in mind for me. In retrospect, I wonder why I refusedto contest the South Delhi elections. Why did I refuse to be persuaded? Maybe some divine power wanted me to contest against Sonia Gandhi. Do you think you have now gone beyond Delhi politics and the BJP perceives you as a national leader?I never wanted to become CM to Delhi. It was like a last-ditch attempt to save a desperate situation. Otherwise, ever since I have been in the Rajya Sabha and then the Lok Sabha, I was never merely a state political leader. What next, after Bellary? If the BJP wins, the election will you get a Cabinet berth.Believe me, I am so happy after Bellary that I do not want anything. I repeat, I do not want anything. I am so satisfied, everything else looks so small in comparison. All I am waiting for is that meri jeet ballot box se bahar aaye (my victory should emerge from the ballot box). Have the factions in the BJP made up for the elections? Will this peace continue after the elections?Definitely. I think peoplerealised that when there were differences, the party suffered. When we all came together, the atmosphere was very different. What about the so-called mafia - the leaders who are the power-brokers in the BJP?Well, I don't think there is anything like a mafia is the BJP. But it is true that some people have a different style of functioning. So is there going to be a clean-up within the BJP? What about controversial ministers such as Pramod Mahajan?People do learn from their past mistakes. We will have to get out of the election mode and think about the organisation; about better coordination between the organisation and the government. You recently said that if the BJP comes to power, the Women's Bill will be passed?What I meant was that that if we get a majority we will stop being dependent on this numbers game. Then, we would be 100 per cent committed to get the Bill passed by Parliament. When I made the statement, I was merely repeating Vajpayeeji'scommitment. You are widely perceived to be Advani's protege. What did the PM tell you before Bellary?He blessed me and told me that I was not just contesting, I was going to win. When he came to address my public meeting he congratulated me on the felicity of my Kannada. When I saw the poor, simple people in my constituency, I thought I would have to speak to them in their native tongue. Sonia Gandhi used to just come and go in a helicopter, but I felt really bad since Bellary is so backward. No roads, no drainage and no toilets for women. As far as I am concerned, I have well-defined roles. When I meet my daughter it is as a mother, my husband as his wife and my in-laws as their daughter-in-law. I have now adopted Bellary.
