Did the anti-BJP sentiment and not really pro-Congress mood help your party?
This clearly was a vote for the Congress. The BJP has been routed because the Congress presented a very acceptable and clear option. The people of Chhattisgarh did not give a negative vote against any party.
The Congress seems to have promised the moon in its manifesto announcements of loan waiver, increased MSP and so on. Will you be able to deliver them well in time before Lok Sabha polls?
Mankind has not only reached the moon and we have gone even beyond. And we have only made practical promises. We are looking at roughly a budget of Rs 1 lakh crore. We will obviously have to look at ways to generate additional revenue, cut expenses and prioritise. It is difficult but doable and will be done.
Do you think more than (current CM) Raman Singh it was anti-incumbency against Prime Minister Narendra Modi that worked against the party?
Obviously, Narendra Modi's magic didn't work, they did not even cross 20 seats. And Raman Singh, nice guy, a smiling face. He had been in power for 15 years and in all these years nothing really stuck to him. There were talks but still nothing stuck to him. But his own victory margin came down. Obviously, they were on a back foot. But such a massive victory, not only in terms of number of MLAs but in amount of vote share shows that it is the people's victory. And that our (Congress) president Rahul Gandhi managed to connect to the people.
How will these results impact the Lok Sabha polls which are just six months away?
In every election in the State the margin between Congress and BJP has never gone above 2 per cent. But at the same time, in Lok Sabha elections, which are usually held 4-6 months after the State Assembly polls, the margin widens. So obviously whichever party wins the State also impacts the Lok Sabha outcome too.
And more importantly, a chain has been formed in the Hindi heartland. Out of 65 seats in three States (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) Congress only had five seats here. Even if we were to hand over half of the 65 seats to BJP it will no longer be in majority in the Lok Sabha.
