Your decision to go it alone was a huge risk, given that BJP had never contested all the seats on its own strength. What made you feel confident that you would pull it off?
It was not so much about taking a risk. We went the farthest we could have without hurting our self-respect. Our suggestion that Shiv Sena and BJP should contest 147 and 127 seats while leaving 14 to our allies which were crucial to our success in the Lok Sabha elections was a fair suggestion. But that failed to resolve matters, so I was left with no option but to go it alone. As for my confidence, I was aware, even before the Lok Sabha elections, that BJP possessed far more strength in Maharashtra than was being acknowledged.
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Whatever may have been the driver, it was a risky call, considering that all pre-poll surveys indicated BJP and Shiv Sena could have got 200+ seats if they stayed together. There could have been consequences for PM Modi and your authority in BJP.
BJP and Sena could have scored a comfortable victory by keeping their alliance intact. But, as I said, I could not have hurt the interests of my party merely for the sake of saving the alliance. For an alliance to succeed and endure, its partners must protect each other's interests.
But were you not deterred by the risk, that a setback would have had costs for your Prime Minister and your leadership?
Politics is not a laboratory experiment where you can control everything. You have to take calls even when you feel that matters may spin out of your hand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP president Amit Shah. (PTI Photo)
What were the factors that contributed to the party's achievements in Maharashtra and Haryana?
First of all, it was the Prime Minister's unprecedented popularity. He may even figure on the top of the list of most popular leaders post-Independence. Second, the performance of the Modi government and its policies over the past four months enhanced people's trust in the leader and his government as well as the party. Third, misgovernance and rampant corruption during 15 years of Congress-NCP rule was a big issue in the polls and it naturally worked to BJP's big advantage. The fourth contributory factor was the commitment of BJP's workers and our organizational strength. It was a combination of four factors that helped the party achieve a big success in the polls.
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Many people have attributed the twin successes to your brand of aggressive politics.
I did mention the role of organization and workers. I am part of the organization.
One of your senior colleagues has been quoted saying you made a huge difference because you have fire in your belly and you took the fight to the terrain of party rivals.
That is not very important. I have always fought elections like this. It is a mere coincidence that now I happen to be the president of the party and have been tasked with a responsibility that I try to discharge to the best of my ability. Sometimes you get more credit than you deserve.
You are being called the most powerful person in the country after Modi. Your comments.
These rankings are done by media without any basis. I don't attach much significance to this.
Was there any point during the election campaign when you felt that the decision to go it alone might boomerang?
No, I was very confident about the support for BJP. Before the elections were announced, I visited four important centres in both Maharashtra and Haryana. The response and feedback I got convinced me that BJP was going to do very well.
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You scored an outright win in Haryana and registered unprecedented success in Maharashtra. But you failed to secure a majority in Maharashtra. What were the reasons for this? Are you disappointed?
In all, there were 170 seats in Maharashtra which we had never contested. To raise an organization within 15 days was not possible. Despite this, our performance has been very good. It was a four-cornered contest. In fact, many seats witnessed five-cornered, even six-cornered contests because of powerful Independents and good local candidates. That we finished just about 20 seats short of the majority mark,is in my estimate, a considerable achievement.
Shiv Sena, both during and after the poll campaign, launched a vicious attack on BJP and its senior members. Do you think it will be possible for the two parties to do business again?
I will not like to comment on what Shiv Sena said during the campaign. But so far as BJP is concerned, we did not ask their representative Anant Geete to leave the Modi government even after we decided to go our separate ways in Maharashtra. It is because of our support that a Sena representative is mayor of Mumbai, and we continue to support them in BMC. So, as far as the BJP is concerned we did not break the alliance. But we could not have compromised our interests. The results have vindicated our position.
READ ALSO: Amit Shah now second most influential politician in country
How do you react to NCP's offer of unconditional support, considering that BJP attacked them during the campaign?
I have gone through NCP's statement carefully. They have merely said that BJP, which has emerged as the single largest party, has got the mandate. And that they will support a BJP government because doing so will be good for the development of the state since the party is in power at the Centre.
But the outgoing Maharashtra CM, Prithviraj Chavan, has cited NCP's support to say that you and Sharad Pawar co-ordinated moves to quit your respective alliances?
This is strange. NCP was their partner for 15 years. Why should Chavan blame me for his failure to handle his coalition partner? Does he expect me to work as his coalition manager?
People say you benefited in Maharashtra because Congress did not put its heart into the campaign?
This is not correct. Both in Maharashtra and Haryana, Congress ran the most lavish campaign. For each hoarding and banner put up by us in these two states, there were several of Congress. They did their best. In politics even the best effort may not be adequate.
You spoke about the policies of Narendra Modi's government being a factor?
Oh yes. They were a huge factor. Government's policies - Jan Dhan Yojana, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Shramey Jayate, Swachh Bharat, Adarsh Gram - are meant to address basic needs of people. Our leader has designed them to ensure popular participation in their implementation. This is very different from the approach followed so far where schemes were imposed from the top while denying any say to people. The schemes have the %potential of turning into popular movements which can change the country.
What are your next priorities?
As I said in my speech after taking over as the party chief, my objective is to strength the organization in all the states and reach its message to each person in the country. My first job is to install BJP governments in states which go to polls, like Jharkhand, Bihar, UP and Bengal. My second priority is to focus on states where support for BJP is not matched by booth-level strength. I have identified eight states which belong to this category.
But winning states like Bihar could be tough because of caste equations and the coming together of your rivals Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad?
Each state has its political dynamics and poses its own challenge. But that should not deter us.
After your success in Haryana and Maharashtra, BJP is in control of states which account for 37% of the GDP. Do you think it is a happy augury for reforms?
All the states where we are in power have witnessed higher growth. That is because of our policies. And our success in more states and the fact that we are in power at the Centre can only accelerate the growth process.
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