Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and the BJP’s face in Delhi, Vijender Gupta, says voter connect is of essence, not glamour. Talking about his party’s disciplined approach to politics, Mr. Gupta says the BJP aims to communicate its agenda to the people and does not differentiate between candidates and office-bearers.
Why are the MCD elections so important this time?
The elections are important to assess an experiment that was conducted in Delhi and seen across the country — the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which promised alternative and austere politics. This will be a referendum on their governance. People had high hopes from it. They forgot divisions across caste, creed, urban and rural classifications. Everyone voted for the AAP, but then the party changed its agenda. It failed miserably in Punjab and Goa, making the voters realise that they couldn’t rely on the AAP.
Do you agree that the Congress is on the path to revival considering the Rajouri Garden bypoll result?
A party that fared as badly as it did in Uttar Pradesh and needed to use the Samajwadi Party as a crutch cannot be said to be in revival mode. Even the Punjab victory is not to Rahul Gandhi’s credit, but Capt. Amarinder’s.
Who is your principal opponent in these elections – the AAP or the Congress?
For us, both are opponents since they are two sides of the same coin. Both the parties work in a similar way, have a similar track record, agenda and policies. While the Congress is the party of one family, the AAP is the party of one individual. Its founders — from Anna Hazare to Yogendra Yadav — have left, leaving behind a private limited, individual party.
There is a new trend in the BJP of bringing leaders from other States to campaign for local candidates. Even in the MCD elections, among others, Yogi Adityanath is expected to campaign. Why?
Our family has become bigger. You may call him (Yogi Adityanath) a Chief Minister, but we are also party workers. We are fighting an issue-based election where the aim is to effectively communicate our agenda to the people and we will do so in any way that is possible. Voter connect is of essence, not glamour.
The first term of the trifurcated municipal corporations is coming to an end. How has the experience been?
Sheila Dikshit ji is solely responsible for the trifurcation of the MCD and the step-motherly treatment meted out to the three civic bodies after that, which was done as per her political agenda. It was aimed at making the municipalities political lightweights. The Congress, to further its own political interests, attacked an entire system. It was a conspiracy hatched to weaken the civic bodies.
Are you mulling a merger of the municipal corporations if you come to power?
I would say that the system must not be toyed with. That being said, we will do what is best for the MCDs — whether it is unifying them or strengthening them. Whatever is required to make the MCD a viable and effective organisation will be done. We do not believe in tax enhancement, we do not want to burden the people further. But steps need to be taken to strengthen the municipalities financially by optimising resources.
Will the House Tax exemption, which is being offered by the AAP, hurt the financial viability of the MCDs?
It is a non-serious proposition like many others, which has led the people to lose faith in the AAP. This is merely an attempt to lure voters through perks. Making statements is one thing, but has the party cared to explain how it intends to deliver on it?
How do you plan to increase internal revenue without increasing taxes?
We plan to do so through remunerative projects such as the Civic Centre, for example. Land is available with the municipalities in Delhi. If utilised optimally, it can play a major role. Second, the Finance Commission needs to implemented seriously. Third, technology-driven initiatives such as waste-to-energy plants are a viable solution. Funds available with the MCDs, for instance, were enough to replace hazardous railway crossings with under-bridges, among other initiatives like abattoirs functioning on the Capital’s Idgah Road being shifted to a modernised facility in Ghazipur.
What about allegations of corruption against the MCDs over the last 10 years?
We took many steps like the biometric attendance system. We were the first municipal body in the country to introduce the system for as many as 1.5 lakh employees, leading to efficient management. We introduced e-tendering, again the first in the country, with everything from the tendering process to the payment of fee going completely online. We introduced the third party inspection of works, e-governance, and e-filing of property tax, among others, which were later replicated by the Delhi government.
What was the need to change all your candidates for the MCD polls if your party has so much to show for itself?
It is an example of the party’s disciplined approach to the politics it practises. Politics doesn’t just involve being elected as a public representative. For the party, there is no difference between a candidate in an election or an office-bearer. Each person has a responsibility and not just an opportunity.
Why the sudden changes at the top-level leadership in Delhi? You projected Kiran Bedi in the Assembly elections, and now Mr. Manoj Tiwari in view of the Purvanchali votes. Does the party have no local leader, such as you, whom it can trust?
I have no regrets or any grouse. Whatever decision the party takes is a unanimous one. Everyone considers themselves equally responsible for both good and bad results. The party has moved ahead with much speed; until we involve more and more people, how will we successfully widen our base?
Whose choice was Mr. Tiwari?
Mr. Tiwari has been our MP since 2014. Mr. Satish Upadhyay had completed his tenure and we needed a new president. So, we jointly decided to elect Mr. Tiwari.
Was he (Mr. Tiwari) Mr. (Narendra) Modi’s choice or Mr. (Amit) Shah’s? Was the Delhi BJP consulted?
He was the party’s choice. The Delhi BJP also had a say.
The AAP says that your government at the Centre has targeted its MLAs and Ministers through criminal cases using the Delhi Police, which is directly under it. How true is this?
Allegations like these are the reason behind Arvind Kejriwal’s downfall. The Shunglu Committee has found evidence of misconduct against his government. The criminal cases are based on statements of criminality perpetrated by the concerned MLAs and Ministers. The country is governed by laws and public representatives need to lead by example.
There is considerable concern that you are mulling a complete ban on illegal slaughtering [of cows] in Delhi if you come to power.
Yes, we are in favour of a complete ban on illegal slaughtering, which vitiates the drainage system and is problematic if you consider the health and hygiene aspects.
Won’t the ban affect the demand for meat and meat products, which is considerably high and is met with difficulty?
Much of the meat produced through illegal slaughter in Delhi is feeding the export market or the inter-State demand. Delhi is a hub for the meat business. I believe the local demand can be met even if illegal slaughtering is banned. We are working on a plan to make more abattoirs, make the licensing process simpler and organised, but we are completely against illegal slaughtering.
Has the politics around the MCDs gotten more personal, for instance, with the posters put up by the AAP against you?
I think Arvind Kejriwal’s personal frustration is behind the attempt to make this a beauty contest. Even here, he hasn’t been honest by putting up a smiling picture of his against a villainous one of mine. I don’t know where they got it from. I’ve searched for hours on the Internet but couldn’t find it. I think they made it on their own. I’ve challenged Mr. Kejriwal to an open, issue-based debate, but he’s running away and playing photo-photo instead.
There are a lot of projects that have failed or been delayed – the Rani Jhansi grade separator project and water-less toilets, for instance. Your comment?
The Rani Jhansi project has not failed, it is delayed. It is a complicated project that we started in 2009 and protests erupted as soon as it was sanctioned. The Delhi government didn’t cooperate. It will be completed soon. Of course, some other projects couldn’t be completed, but we were successful in as many as seven out of 10, on an average.
