BJP leader Birender Singh: ‘If INDIA bloc fights unitedly, then there will be a good fight (in 2024)’

'The maximum policies of the Haryana government are done through portals... It's not wooing voters, but giving a message to people that they have been trapped,' the former Union minister tells The Indian Express

Written by Sukhbir Siwach
Chandigarh | Updated: October 6, 2023 10:21 AM IST

4 min read

Birender Singh, political pulse, indian express

A former Congress leader, Birender Singh said that he has more friends in the grand old party than in the BJP. (File)

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Senior Haryana BJP leader and ex-Union minister Birender Singh has heated up state politics by threatening to quit the BJP if the party continues with its alliance with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections slated for next year. A former Congress leader, Birender has also said that he has more friends in the grand old party than in the BJP. In an interview with The Indian Express, he speaks about a range of such issues. Excerpts:

Have you asked the BJP to snap ties with the JJP, threatening to quit the party?

I haven’t said this. A poll alliance is different than that of the current government alliance which is only meant to run a stable government for five years. If a poll alliance – for Lok Sabha elections or Haryana Assembly polls – is forged with them (JJP), then I won’t be staying in BJP.

Your son Brijendra Singh is a sitting BJP MP from Hisar and your wife Prem Lata Singh is a former BJP MLA. Have you discussed your stand with them?

In a political family, discussions keep taking place 24-hour. The ultimate decision would be of the individual concerned, it may be my wife or my son. I have made my stand clear that I won’t stay in BJP if this alliance continues.

If the BJP-JJP alliance continues, is there any possibility of you returning to the Congress?

I will take a political decision if a poll alliance takes place between both (BJP-JJP). A comment on my next step at this stage is premature. However, I have more friends in Congress. Rajiv Gandhi had made the biggest contribution for where I am today.

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What’s your take on the Opposition INDIA alliance?

If they (INDIA bloc) are committed to the cause to give a united fight, then it matters and it will be a big political event. If some mischief is done because of self-interest, then their fate would be the same as that of the Janata Party’s in 1977.

What are the initial indications coming from the INDIA bloc?

I see they would go to a great extent to see that things take shape. But it appears they may forge an alliance for 400-425 Lok Sabha seats while leaving 100-125 LS seats without a consensus. If they don’t fight with total unity, they may not be able to defeat the BJP. If they fight unitedly, then there will be a good fight (in 2024 Lok Sabha polls).

What in your view are public sentiments about the BJP governments in Haryana and at the Centre?

They have introduced certain new technological methodology (various portals) for certain works which are concerning day-to-day life of rural masses and even affect urban masses up to a great extent. The people are jittery over this. They don’t feel comfortable with this kind of technology. There are chances that it may cause losses (politically). The maximum policies of the Haryana government are done through portals… It’s not wooing voters, but giving a message to people that they have been trapped.

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What is your assessment of Haryana’s political scenario and the BJP’s prospects?

It will ultimately depend on the alliance (BJP-JJP). Today we can’t say what will happen without alliance or with alliance… However, it’s certain that the contest will be between Congress and BJP in Haryana.