Ashok Chavan: ‘Congress leadership’s knowledge of what’s happening in Maharashtra is questionable. Unfortunately, people like Nana Patole have made a mess’

* How true is the Congress allegation that you joined the BJP fearing ED?

All rubbish. Have you ever heard of any allegation against me by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)? If the Congress is making a claim, it should provide the evidence as well. Where is that evidence? Just because you have a mouth does not mean you can say anything about me.

* Why didn’t more Congress leaders follow you to join the BJP?

I didn’t ask anyone to come with me, nor am I calling anyone and asking them to change their party now. Yes, there are many leaders within the Nanded Congress who regularly talk to me, and some will switch as well.

* Is it Ashok Chavan versus Congress in this election?

See, I’m not the candidate. But if my opponents see me as a candidate, then I am ready for that too. I consider this my honour. My job is to make the BJP candidate win. The Congress candidate (Vasant Balvantrao Chavan Patil) couldn’t even win the Naigaon Assembly seat in the 2019 state polls, when I was in the Congress. My advice to Congress leaders is to focus on their own election instead of me.

* How important is victory in this election for you? Are you sure of a smooth vote transfer?

Every election is important. But yes, these are untested waters. For years, I have worked with a set of people under different circumstances. How they react, what they do, is a test for us too. But I am hopeful. It might take time to rebuild my personal vote base in the district, but I’ve already begun doing that this election season. I have always taken every election seriously. Ideological issues are bound to be there for some, and I accept and respect that. I have had relations with people from all communities for over four decades now. I’m sure they will stand by me.

* Is PM Modi and Amit Shah’s coming here for rallies even after you joined the BJP an indication that the party is unsure of victory in Nanded?

Everybody wants to come to a winning seat. Every PM has visited Nanded from the time of Indira Gandhi, putting Nanded on the national poll map.

* Is it true that PM Modi’s face is all that matters in this election, not the candidate?

Of course, the PM’s face is the most important factor and makes a lot of difference. But ultimately, workers have to fight on the ground. The candidate’s network, his face has its own importance. Prataprao is travelling, I am campaigning. It all helps.

* Is the BJP’s campaign only dependent on Modi’s face and emotive issues like Ram Temple?

As I said earlier, Modiji is our biggest vote catcher. People love and respect him. And of course, many are happy over the construction of the Ram Temple. But that does not mean we are dependent only on this. The development that has come to this region with roads, crop insurance, etc, the political stability in the country, and the Centre’s pro-people policies for all, are also going to be key to our success.

* Were you unhappy with the Congress leadership in the state or at the Centre?

The (Congress) central leadership’s knowledge of what’s happening in the state is questionable. Unfortunately, people like Nana Patole (state Congress president) have made a mess, giving away all good seats of the Congress to its allies. As long as I was there, I used to fight for every single seat. These people have no knowledge as well. Look at Bhiwandi and Sangli. All these traditional Congress seats are gone. Look at Mumbai. Was Varsha Gaikwad ever consulted? She has openly mentioned how things are messed up in the party. The central leadership has left everything to Patole, and nobody knows who Patole has left it on. It’s good for the BJP. But imagine, this is the condition of a national party.

* Is it true that Maratha quota protesters are stopping BJP leaders from entering villages?

No. There was only one such incident at Konda, that too a minor one. After that, I held a meeting with the community youth and everything was sorted. I have met numerous Maratha protesters and groups in the last 15 days, and they are convinced. I even met Manoj Jarange-Patil. Now, they are all realising that they are being used.