Ram Madhav, the BJP’s National General Secretary, who single-handedly and successfully negotiated a pre-poll partnership with regional political parties — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodo Peoples Front (BPF) — dispelled the notion that Muslims in Assam would face persecution in the pretext of tackling illegal immigration.
“There is no politics and there is no religion in our efforts. We stand to preserve the secular identity of Assam and for the overall development of the State. You can see that in this election a lot of Muslims have voted for the BJP. It’s a good sign,” Mr. Madhav told The Hindu at the party office in Guwahati.
Year long strategy
A key architect behind the party’s victory in Assam, Mr. Madhav explained his electoral strategy, saying that it worked because of is its timing. “We started working on this election almost one and a half years ago. We put in place a meticulously planned strategy and I think we have done everything right at the right time,” said Mr. Madhav.
Calling it a “dream alliance,” he said the rival Congress also tried to work out a similar combination with the AGP and BPF. “But they (Congress leaders) could not work it out because the regional parties knew that Assamese people are done with them,” said Mr. Madhav.
Sarma’s role
Speaking on the role of Himanta Biswa Sarma, who severely dented the Congress’s electoral prospects when he switched to the BJP, Mr. Madhav said Mr. Sarma would work as a “State constituent” under chief minister-elect Sarbananda Sonowal’s command and ruled out the possibility of deputing him as a minister in the centre.
“Right now, he won the elections in the State Assembly and he was one of our key campaigners. He has shouldered a major responsibility in the campaign and he has an important role to play ahead,” said Mr. Madhav.
Full interview:
How difficult was it to make this victory happen?
It was very difficult. From five seats to come anywhere near a majority is in itself a huge task. We have started working on this election almost one and a half years ago. We put in place a meticulously planned strategy and I think we have done everything right at the right time.
What are the key highlights of the BJP’s electoral strategy for Assam?
First of all the kind of alliance we managed to stitch together. It’s a dream alliance. Never in the history of Assam has this kind of alliance happened. Even at the time of Assam agitation we did not see this kind of rainbow alliance happening. It has captured the imagination of people in a big way. Even Congress attempted to engage with these parties. But they (Congress leaders) could not work it out because AGP and BPF knew that Assamese people are done with the Congress.
Earlier in the day you said Congress free India?
Look at the results of four major states—Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal. There is one common thread, which is, people have rejected Congress party. People are even dumping the parties that join hands with the Congress.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, the man whom you reportedly poached from Congress, what’s his role going to be in the upcoming government?
He will be an important constituent in the state government under Sarbananda Sonowal.
Is there any chance he will be asked to serve as a minister in the central government?
No, right now he won elections in the state assembly and he was one of our key campaigners. He has shouldered a major responsibility in the campaign and he has an important role to play ahead.
How do you see Congress’s attack on the BJP with regard to intolerance issue, on your party’s attempt to “alter” history? You think it will have a long term impact on BJP’s electoral base?
All Congress does is to speak on every non-issue and try to stall every progressive agenda of Modi government. They have no real agenda of their own. Let’s take the issue of renaming of the roads. It’s a prerogative of any given government. States are already doing it. Under Congress rule in this country, several hundred projects have been named after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Why can’t we do it? Apart from Gandhis, there are other important leaders this country has produced.
I saw you in the morning and you refused to talk despite the fact the BJP’s victory was quite clear. Why were you reluctant to talk at that time?
I wasn’t. I just wanted to see the magnitude of this victory.
Should Muslims in Assam be concerned with the BJP in power?
We believe in preserving the secular identity of Assam. There is no politics and there is no religion in it. We stand to preserve the secular identity of Assam and for the overall development of the state. You can see that in this election a lot of Muslims have voted for the BJP. It’s a good sign.
