The main strategist behind the BJP’s back-to-back election victories, federal home minister and former party leader Amit Shah, has been involved in every step of the campaign in the five states, especially the UP. He was responsible for some signs of a bump in the first stage as the sweep that shaped BJP last time out. AMIT SHAH told The Indian Express why he is confident of winning again amid issues such as UP, Madhya Pradesh relations, leaders leaving the party and voters’ concerns about jobs.
IE: When you ran the BJP campaign in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message was aimed at the current president, Akhilesh Yadav. Today is Yogi Adityanath’s five years and Akhilesh Yadav is the challenger. How does this make a difference to you?
Amit Shah: This time our strength has improved. Modi is still there. With him, we understand what the Yogi government has done for Uttar Pradesh over the past five years. There are many other benefits of BJP. So I think we are stronger.
IE: In your first UP campaign speech last October, you said that if people wanted Narendra Modi to be prime minister again in 2024, they should make sure that Yogi Adityanath wins in 2022. Why is there such a connection?
Amit Shah: I didn’t say that. I said the route to Delhi is via Lucknow. As Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats in the Lok Sabha, it is very important for the BJP to take power in Uttar Pradesh and return to power in 2024…without Uttar Pradesh mandate.
IE: On the ground, we have heard that there is a certain difference between the government and the party organization in the UP. We hear complaints about bureaucrats being too powerful and influential. What challenges did you face when you took over the campaign?
Amit Shah: No challenge at all. The divergence you speak of, I call it hallucination. There is actually no difficulty. That illusion was shattered when senior party leaders stepped in. Humara lakhsya tha Uttar Pradesh my aparadikaran rajneeti rokna, Uttar Pradesh ka Administration ka rajneetikaran rokna. Jab hamara lakshya hota hai, toh bureaucrat driven kya hota hai (our goal is to end the criminalization of politics and the politicization of administration. This bureaucrat driven when our goal is not to politicize administration in Uttar Pradesh What is something? )? If there is a deficiency, we can sit down and correct it.
Amit Shah: It’s natural. Our party is not undemocratic, we have freedom of speech, but our party is also a well-disciplined party. Everyone was within discipline when the elections started… Today, from Ghaziabad to Sonbhadra, you will see the entire BJP cadre working for victory. Once elections are over in one phase, they move on to the next phase.
Complete news Source : The Indian Express
