The state president of the BJP, CP Joshi, claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form its government in the state with a historic majority. Senior correspondent Manu Sharma talked to CP Joshi in an exclusive interview, where Joshi stated that he and all the party workers, under the inspiration of their management group, Hanuman Ji, have worked together throughout the elections, and due to this collaboration, they anticipate the downfall of the Congress government, symbolically referred to as Lanka. Excerpts:
Q: The voting in the state has concluded. What does your assessment say?
A: Historic voting has taken place in the state, and the BJP, like a family, is moving towards an unprecedented majority. We are going to form a government with a strong majority. In Congress, issues such as corruption, violence against women, law and order, paper leaks, and others created dissatisfaction among the people. Those who were in power with promises forgot them, and the people have now indicated through their votes what the consequences could be. People had already decided that this time they would bring the BJP back to power. People have unshakable faith in PM Modi, who turns the impossible into possible. The work done in the last 9.5 years for the welfare of the poor, women’s empowerment, rural and urban development, and health has not been seen in the last 60 years.
Q: You are saying that historic voting has taken place. What does this trend indicate?
A: In 2013, there was a 75% voter turnout, in 2018, there was a 74% plus voter turnout, and in 2023, there was a 75% plus voter turnout. These figures speak for themselves, clearly indicating that the people have expressed their unbroken trust in the BJP. I have also seen the scenario in 2019, where people left their work to vote, and they voted for Modi Ji and nationalism, based on trust.
Q: CM Gehlot was claiming 156 seats before the elections, and his mission was also 156. Can you provide any numbers?
A: I did say that 156 will be achieved, but it will be for the BJP, not the Congress. The BJP is set to form its government, and speaking of Congress, it cannot surpass 50 seats. There was significant dissatisfaction among the people with the government, and it was just a government of holding and advertisements, corruption was rampant, and the administration had created an atmosphere of fear by issuing Taliban-like orders in Rajasthan.
Q: You say there is a Mughal Sultanate in Rajasthan, and the CM says that BJP leaders incite people’s sentiments. What is your take on this?
A: The CM is unaware that he himself is inciting a large section. Rajasthan has been kept in a situation where PFIs are given permission, and attempts are made to restrict Hindu organisations. Whether it’s Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, or Jodhpur, everywhere the situation was created in this way. Under the Congress rule, cases were filed against those chanting slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ and the Ram Darbar temple was demolished with a drill in Malpura. People left the place in fear. Now, you tell me, who incited whom?
Q: The entire campaign and rallies of the BJP were completely centred around Hindutva and the consolidation of votes. On the other hand, Congress came with a guarantee. What impact do you think it had?
A: Hindutva is one aspect of our campaign, but along with that, the development done for the country is also included. Rajasthan is also part of the new highways, and roads built, work on health, and new colleges opening. All these works and schemes of the central government, which we have taken to the people. But if you talk about the Congress’s guarantee, tell me which guarantee has been fulfilled by them. Neither could they control inflation nor provide relief to the people. They only organised camps to show, but nothing has been done. Today, in Rajasthan, petrol and diesel are the most expensive, and electricity is also the costliest but the government is not paying any attention. They promised to distribute 1.4 million mobiles to women in the state, but only around 1.7 lakh were distributed, and some people even went to court. In response, the government said that they did not give any guarantee that they would distribute mobiles. Now, tell me whose guarantee has failed.
Q: The issues raised by OPS changed the government in Himachal. Will we see a similar impact in Rajasthan?
A: Congress always comes with such issues before every election, but tell me, what happened to the promises they made in Karnataka? Those promises are being fulfilled now in Karnataka, and you can ask the people there. Such statements are made only to enjoy power. Tell me, if they had brought the Annapurna scheme five or six months before the elections, would the public not have benefited during the COVID times? People do not understand such strategies and only see them as an attempt to bring in schemes at the last minute before the elections, and there is corruption even in those schemes, as evident from past experiences. People have already seen all this, and they voted accordingly.
Q: The BJP adopted a new strategy this time by not declaring anyone as the CM face. Was this a strategy to avoid open factionalism?
A: Rajasthan is not the first state where such a strategy was adopted. It was previously implemented in Karnataka, Gujarat, and Himachal. Even for Rajasthan, it was decided in the parliamentary board that no one would be declared as the face. The face of Modi Ji inspired confidence among the people.
Q: The CM is often referred to as a magician. Are you a bigger magician who managed to bring different groups together in the elections?
A: I am not a magician. I am just an ordinary worker. We all, together with the party workers, have worked hard, and it is through their efforts and dedication, along with guidance from the central leadership, that we have achieved all this. All the workers united and worked for the betterment of Rajasthan.
Q: There is a management aspect to elections, and they are fought through a certain strategy. Who is your management guru, and through whose guidance have you moved forward in the battlefield of elections?
A: In terms of management, I consider Lord Hanuman as an ideal. He had firm faith in Lord Ram and, with his unwavering belief, destroyed the fortress of arrogance, symbolised by Ravana. Similarly, here, working together with party workers, we have defeated the arrogance represented by the Congress government. We have broken their pride.
