Page 31 - English Tehelka Issue 12 - June 30, 2018

q&a interview

Prithviraj Chavan empty slogans and broken promises. states with very small assemblies. Constitution. If BJP wins in 2019,
Former chieF minister oF maharashtra They are not impressed by glamor- They generally like to be with the there would be no more elections,
ous events and ad blitz any more. Central Government so that they no more democracy.
‘If BJP wins in 2019, there would be is reflected in the poor performance can get large grants. This is not very You said that there would be no
They are disillusioned. And that

surprising.
opposition without Congress.
of the BJP in the recent by-elec -
no more elections, no more democracy’ tions to Gujarat and the Karnataka You have recently said that if How many parties Congress could
the BJP once again acquired a
bring together to fight against
Assemblies, and also in the
majority in 2019, it would be
the BJP? Is Congress powerful
series of defeats in the Lok Sabha
the last election in India. Explain
by-elections.
power?
I have often said that if BJP wins the enough to quench their thirst for
Former chief minister of Maharashtra and the inadequacy of talent in the government, — there is no transpar- BJP dented Northeast which was 2019 Lok Sabha election that would Congress party has always been an
Prithviraj Chavan is known for speaking government has now become clearly ency in the Rafale aircraft deal, the once considered fiefdom of the be the last election in the country. important pole in the Indian politics.
his mind. From taking potshot at the BJP obvious. Prime Minister Narendra Bullet Train deal, the GSPC scam and Congress as well as the regional BJP has now emerged as the larg- The only way to defeat the BJP would
party on dwindling economy and petrol Modi had promised a corruption-free HPCL disinvestment, and not a ru- political outfits, reason? est party in the Rajya Sabha — they be for a broad alliance of all secular
price; Rahul Gandhi as potential leader government and he had promised to pee of black money has been brought BJP has won in the North East - will get a full majority by 2020. So, parties, led by the Congress Party.
to talks on pre-poll alliance to defeat get back the black money stashed in back. Crony capitalism is the guid- ern states only using brute money they will be in a position to amend Because Congress Party is present
Narendra Modi in 2019 polls, the Congress the tax havens abroad, but instead this ing principle of this government. power and misusing the office of the the Constitution in any way they in the large number of states. With-
leader talked in length in a conversation has turned out to be the most corrupt People have seen through the Governor. These are all very small like. BJP has always wanted to out the Congress Party, other par-
with manmohan singh naula ties would not be able to create a
momentum to give an effective fight
edited excerpts From an interview • North Eastern to the BJP across the country. The
states are small choice of Prime Minister could be
left to the outcome of the election.
They say country is reeling
through strange socio-political states with very According to your detractors,
crisis... Your take on this small assemblies. third front seems to be a distant
The country is going through a reality. Your take…
serious crisis. The economy is in They generally Yes, the third front would be a
doldrums, There is a grave agricul- like to be with the non-starter. BJP government has
tural crisis, no new jobs are being cre- to be opposed by a single alliance
ated, the thoughtless demonetisation Central Government of all the secular, pro-constitu -
and unplanned implementation of so that they can get tion, pro-democracy parties. The
the GST, has caused a serious injury to real challenge would be in field -
the small traders and the daily wage large grants ing a single candidate against
earners. The high taxes on petrol and the BJP in every single constitu -
diesel and the resulting inflation has ency. The Karnataka outcome
broken the backs of the middle class- alter the Constitution. This will be and the subsequent events, particu-
es. The rupee is depreciating, exports their opportunity. If you see the style larly the role of the Governor showed
are falling and the trade gap is wid- of functioning of the Prime Min- how low the BJP can stoop. Kumar-
ening. The banking sector has been ister, he is autocratic. He has little aswamy’s election as the Chief Min-
crushed by a huge rise in the NPAs respect for the institutions. There ister and the subsequent opposition
and unprecedented scams. is no consultation with his ministe- unity seen during his swearing-in
The social tension between differ- rial colleagues or senior party lead- ceremony has laid a solid foundation.
ent religions is mounting. Dalits and ers. Winning elections at any cost is
minorities are beaten up and are even the only objective. The Supreme Ironically, wherever the presence
being lynched. Overall, there is a seri- Court has been marginalised, Elec- of the third front is significant,
ous economic and the socio-political tion Commission has become a Congress either remain at the
crisis in the country. The Government toothless body, Parliament is not periphery or non-existent as
is clueless about how to get back to allowed to function. There is a scant clearly witnessed in UP, Bihar, WB,
high economic growth, how to resolve respect for Parliamentary conven- Orissa, etc.
the farm crisis, how to attract invest- tions and democratic institutions. Again, I would reiterate that not a
ment and how to create manufactur- The Hindutva hardliners are not third front, but it has to be an oppo-
ing jobs. being checked. There is a serious sition of all the secular democratic
The finance minister is unwell danger to the democracy and the parties which will have to oppose the

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