Fielded by the party for the coming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, BJP national general secretary and state politics veteran Kailash Vijayvargiya was reported to be “shocked and confused” initially to see his name among the party’s second list of candidates released on Monday. But, in an interview to The Indian Express, Vijayvargiya explains that those comments were made during a candid conversation with party workers in his constituency Indore-1 and that he “will follow what the party wants of me”. Vijayvargiya, who played a crucial role in the party's first win on its own in Haryana in 2015 and its emergence as an alternative force in West Bengal, also discusses the party’s chances of coming back to power, the Congress, and why his MLA son Akash gave a written undertaking to party chief J P Nadda. Excerpts: Is this going to be a tough electoral battle? In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP will form the government for sure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Because, besides the good works and popular support of Modi ji, we have the programmes and governance record of the state government under Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The MP government has changed the lives of the poor and the weaker, brought to them a series of welfare schemes, and pulled out of poverty above 60 lakh people. I do not see a major challenge from the Congress. The Kamal Nath government had promised a loan waiver and Rahul Gandhi assured the people that the loans of the farmers would be waived. But he (Nath) did not do anything in the 15 months when he was in power. But Shivraj ji has spent around Rs 400 crore to pay the penalties accumulated and helped the farmers to repay loans. How does it feel to be on the electoral battlefield? Your son (Indore-3 MLA Akash Vijayvargiya) was expecting to get re-elected … My priority is to see that the BJP forms the government. Every worker in my constituency will see that I win Indore-1 even if I am not there. I will go and campaign for others. As far as my son is concerned, he has given in writing to BJP national president J P Nadda that he does not want to contest as he wants to abide by the party's stand of ‘one family, one ticket’. But your initial reaction was that you did not want to contest. There were also videos in which you were heard saying that you were not ready for this. I was told two days ago about it. I was a bit hesitant initially but then the central leadership called me and asked me to contest as it is the party’s strategy. I, being a disciplined party worker, will follow what the party wants of me. See, those video clips are from my conversation with party workers — the crowd was party workers 100%. I had a heart-to-heart conversation with them. They are my family and I talk to them without any hesitation. I told them that it was their responsibility to see that I win the constituency because I may have to go around and work for others too. My party workers, who know me very well, promised me that I would win it even if I did not campaign a single day. Why did the BJP field such experienced leaders? How is it going to help the party? It was a decision party leadership took. None of us (eight senior leaders whose names were announced in the second list) have ever lost an election. The party may have felt that we should contest to ensure that the BJP wins this election. It gives the impression that the party is taking this election very seriously. The entire team will work together collectively in the elections and later in the government. Then we have to take the challenge in the Lok Sabha elections too. We have to see that Modi ji is back as Prime Minister, stronger and bolder. Is it anti-incumbency or the fatigue factor that made the party take such a decision? The only anti-incumbency on the ground is against the Congress for its 15-month rule. People have not forgotten the corruption or the bribes or illegal collection of money during that time. What is the biggest challenge for the BJP? No major challenges. We are seeing the people's reactions in every booth. Even Muslims are enthusiastic about voting for the BJP. So many Muslim women are beneficiaries of the Ladli Yojana. How important is Madhya Pradesh to the BJP's 2024 plans? It is important but the issues will be different. PM Modi will come back to power, for sure.
