Union MoS Prahlad Patel: ‘Congress made mistakes (in MP)… their leaders were tired and old’

Going by the poll results Sunday, the BJP got an upper hand in as many as 16 seats won by the Congress in 2018 in Mahakoshal.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Prahlad Patel spoke about the factors that delivered the BJP victory in Madhya Pradesh. Excerpts:

Q- You had a lot of hurdles to cross to win this election. What were the main factors that favoured you?

We relied on the four pillars of society, around which we developed schemes for four major social groups — women, youth, farmers and the poor. We relied on a host of schemes to carry us through. We ensured that we communicate these schemes to our target audience in the most effective way possible. I was not surprised by the election results, I have been saying from the start we would win with a comfortable majority.

Q- What was the biggest advantage you enjoyed? Did the Ladli Behna scheme help you?

No one wins on a single issue. We used our organisation and communication skills to get our message across to the people. They realised that the Congress had lied to them. We did not have Ladli Behna in the other states, but still won Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. We won because of Modi magic.

Q- What was your main strategy for breaching Congress strongholds in Mahakoshal?

The Congress party made mistakes. It was not able to communicate to the public. We, on the other hand, told the people that the Congress had gone back on its promises. That was our strategy. The last time people voted for the Congress, there was misrule during its 15 months in power. We told this to the people and they realised it. The Congress did not have any policies and their leaders were tired and old. There was no strong leader, which hurt them.

Q- Did fielding Union ministers and MPs help the BJP? Several party members had initially expressed apprehension over the strategy.

It is obvious now that the strategy worked. We are proud of it. What has also worked is a popular leader’s (PM Modi) message. We also had a strategist (Amit Shah). Our party president (J P Nadda) worked more than the booth-level workers, I would say. All these factors combined to help the Union ministers perform well.

Q- Has the party decided the CM face? Are you in the reckoning?

I don’t get into speculations. I have been saying this from the beginning that we should be ready to fulfil whatever responsibility the party gives in the best possible way.