The results of assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are quite pleasant for BJP as it achieved a huge majority with 163 seats whereas the Congress limited itself with only 66 seats. Even in Rajasthan, the credit for BJP’s massive victory is being given to Prime Minister Narendra. This is also because in all three states, there was no other face from BJP. Curiously, BJP had contested the elections on the face of Prime Minister Modi. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP had given the slogan of Modi in the minds of MPs and this Modi magic had given huge majority to BJP in all the three states and the main opposition party ongress got a crushing defeat.
In Madhya Pradesh, BJP has won the three central elections. Ministers were fielded, out of which two ministers have won the election while one Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste has lost the election. Manoj Manu, Executive Editor of ITV Network, met Union Minister Prahlad Patel, who reached Delhi after the victory in Narsinghpur Assembly, had a special conversation.
Q: How do you see the victory in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and to whom do you give credit?
A: In one line, this is the magic of the name Modi. We are against familism and collective leadership is the strength of Bharatiya Janata Party. I say that there are four resolutions, first is their resolution for the welfare of the poor, second is the resolution of women empowerment, third is that the life of our coming generation should be better than us and the fourth is agriculture, which is the backbone of the Indian economy, giving respect to the farmers and also get the right price for the food grains produced through their hard work.
Q: We got to see one thing. We also talked to you about the assembly elections and you said the same results which were seen in 2018 will be seen in 2023. What did you think and how did you understand this?
A: I was saying on this basis that when you stand on the ground and see, a gap of two decades is a big gap. I used to hesitate many times in saying this but when you talk to a farmer, you will realise this because I myself have been a farmer leader, I have a background in farmers’ movement, when we see the satisfaction of farmers, we feel satisfied. Secondly, without saying, when your support price increases like dearness allowance increases. If yes, then I think it is a big thing for the farmer. Thirdly, no one understood the pain of the small farmer. He used to loot either the moneylender or the bank. To the big people, he seems small. But it was a lifeline for small farmers. When I talk about women empowerment, the first step is toilet without asking, the second step is Prime Minister’s residence, the third step is Ujjwala gas, the fourth step is Jal Jeevan Mission and the fifth step is their political existence. Giving that space which was a demand for decades. Women’s reservation and the same work was done by the state government in Madhya Pradesh but this thing has not stopped yet. The purdah system here is a symbol of the mentality of the Mughal period. Mother power in Indian culture. The supremacy of Adi Guru Shankaracharya had also been acknowledged. It was there even before him that is why bringing it on an equal footing was some concrete work instead of such a slogan.
Q: But in Madhya Pradesh, this figure is beyond 160. This is the effect of dear sister.
A: I think such questions should be avoided. I believe that the schemes of the Centre are already running and also the work done by the state government for women empowerment in Madhya Pradesh is commendable but Looking at the results in other places, we have to avoid such questions like there is poor welfare, there is poor welfare. This is in the entire country where we do not have a government but such schemes are there in those states.
Q: So now what are the reasons for the way you have explained it but do you believe that the results that came in 2018 were due to displeasure with the administration. What difference do you see between the figures that have come in 2023?
A: The fun of reading old letters is that one does not have to answer. There is no point in talking about 2018. The result of 2023 has come and now it should be talked about. Making Madhya Pradesh the number one state. If India has to be made the number one country then Madhya Pradesh will have to move forward. Madhya Pradesh has the possibilities for this. Madhya Pradesh has such possibilities.
Q: You are a Union Minister, an MP and now you have also become an MLA. What does your mind say?
A: Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision is in my mind.
Q: You are a disciplined soldier. You will do whatever the party asks you to do.
A: My track record is that I have contested Lok Sabha elections from 4 different places. I think party workers should not think more than this.
Q: How many places did you campaign? How many rallies did you hold? How much success did you get?
A: I have held 90-92 meetings and got success on 34-35 seats. I felt the worst.