‘When Congress loses in a contest with BJP, the question arises for INDIA bloc– What does it, what does Rahul bring to table?’: BJP MP in-charge

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image on the welfare front, development and Hindutva also helped… We were internally confident about a big score and we delivered. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and the party leadership always maintained that the BJP was ahead of the Congress.

* How far did the Shivraj Singh Chouhan factor, including his government’s welfare schemes, help the BJP?

When we demonstrate 150-plus seats and lead in vote percentage – after being in power for 20 years – it means a lot. The fact that we are able to increase the vote share by 6-7%, it definitely shows that the performance of the state government matters. This would not have happened if the state government did not perform well or garner goodwill of the people.

* You have always maintained that welfare schemes are here to stay. What’s the message this election gives?

We have a vibrant democracy in the country and also in states. It is dynamic too. With the emergence of new sections with a lot of aspirations, the political leadership always needs to be on its toes. We may have been able to address the poverty issue to some extent, but still we have more poor people compared to other democratic countries in the world. The political leadership will have to be sensitive and more in tune with the aspirations of the poor.

* Do you think fielding a number of central leaders, including MPs and ministers, yielded results?

When all the candidates fielded by the party showed good results and when our vote share increased, we can say the strategy and the organisational strength all worked in favour of us. Modiji’s attitude in leading from the front made workers ready to take on challenges.

* Many BJP leaders had blamed ‘reluctant’ cadre as a reason behind the BJP’s defeat in the 2018 elections. How did you overcome it?

In the last three years, there was a consistent attempt to increase the communication coordination between the party and the government. We never allowed the cadre to feel disappointed.

* Who would the BJP pick as CM? Does Chouhan have an edge over others?

Every aspect of the situation, 360 degrees, is on the table before the parliamentary board under the leadership of Modiji. Under his guidance, any decision would be better. Keeping the outcome, performance and the future challenges of the party in mind, a decision will be taken by the leadership.

When we have not gone with a name for the future CM, I do not want to say anything on it. Everything will be decided by the parliamentary board.

* How will these results impact the Lok Sabha polls?

When we went into the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the BJP had lost all these states. With this kind of mandate and support for Modiji and the BJP, it will be an advantageous situation for us. It is going to be better for Modiji and the BJP as the Congress has lost elections against us. Its win in Telangana is not against the BJP. The Congress losing all the states to the BJP itself is a statement. The Congress has lost steam.

*How is it (loss) going to affect the Opposition?

The central point and nucleus of the INDIA bloc is the Congress, and its main fight is against the BJP. It is taken seriously only when it is against the BJP. After the so-called success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the kind of ascendance the party has made, when it loses in a bipolar contest, the question comes up about its strength and ability to lead the INDIA bloc. What does it offer to the Opposition? What is Rahul Gandhi bringing to the table? Such questions will weaken the Opposition.