Close on the heels of a marvellous victory in Gujarat, the BJP has recorded a magnificent win in Himachal Pradesh under the leadership of Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal. It was a coincidence that Congress lost power there on its sthapna divas (foundation day) December 28. It is for the first time that the BJP was able to master majority on its own strength; in 1990 its majority was in alliance with the Janata Dal. Projecting Prof. Dhumal as the chief ministerial candidate, who has been the first non-Congress chief minister to complete his five-year term in HP, seems to have paid dividends to the Party as it was able to record victory in almost each of the four parliamentary constituencies smashing the partition of ?old? and ?new? areas of the Pradesh. Amba Charan Vashishth interviewed Prof. Dhumal for Organiser. Excerpts:
How does it feel to once again lead the Party to win absolute majority and be the CM?
It certainly is an excellent feeling; a sense of achievement and an opportunity to once again dedicate oneself to the service of the people of the State who have reiterated their unstinted faith in the Party and me. It is always a matter of pride and pleasure to win people'slove and affection in abundant measure. And it is only the politicians who have the fortune to experience people'sshow and explicit expression of love and affection through the exercise of their right to franchise in a free and frank manner in a democracy.
How far are you satisfied with the poll verdict?
Completely satisfied. I accept it with a respectful bow and sense of satisfaction. However, I do regret that we lost a few seats by thin margins of less than 200-300.
How do you see the verdict? Was it a negative vote against the Congress government or a positive vote for BJP?
It was more of a positive vote for our Party and less of a negative vote against Government which had failed to fulfill the promises made to the people during the last elections. People had the opportunity to compare the performance of the BJP governments in the past and the last one under me and the Virbhadra government. They therefore preferred a BJP government which did what it promised and promised what it did.
Do you suspect any element of sabotage somewhere?
Not at all. The Party fought the election with a united spirit and every worker and leader contributed his mite in adequate measure.
What about reports of groupism in the Party?
These reports are a thing of the past. The Party is fully united and there is no scope for groupism.
What about your relations with Shri Shanta Kumar?
I enjoy the most cordial relations with him. He worked hard during the elections to ensure party'svictory. Shri Shanta Kumar is, as our President Shri Rajnath Singh rightly put it, the head of the family and I am the head of government.
It appears constitution of your council of ministers is proving to be more ticklish than winning the election. How would you face the post-election scenario in the party?
It'sno problem at all. I admit there are claims and counter-claims for representation in the council of ministers. But, with the advice and approval of the BJP High Command, I see no problem at all. I am determined to give a balanced team in which every area and every section of the people will get due representation.
What is your impression about the type of election campaign conducted during the election?
I admit the election campaign has lost the sanctity it once enjoyed. In the past, parties and candidates avoided personal attacks. But it is not so now. It started during 2003 elections when Congress led a campaign of vilification against me by leveling unsubstantiated charges against me. They made it an election issue. But now after more than four years the same senior Congress leaders, like the national treasurer of the Congress, Shri Motilal Vora and former Congress CM Capt. Amrinder Singh and others have filed an affidavit in the court that they never made any allegation of corruption against me. This incident should be a matter of regret for all politicians who should learn a lesson from this incident.
But a CD against Shri Virbhadra Singh was also the subject of election campaign?
BJP has had nothing to do with it. It was the then senior Congress leader and Shri Virbhadra Singh'scabinet colleague, Major Vijai Singh Mankotia, who released the CD during the Hamirpur Lok Sabha bye-election.
Some recommendations allegedly made by you was also a matter of election campaign?
It was an act of desperation at the hands of Shri Virbhadra Singh who felt the ground below his feet slipping during the election campaign. The attempt boomeranged on the Congress. People saw through the game. If I had done anything wrong or illegal, why did the Congress release it only after five years during election campaign and not earlier? Why did it not proceed against me if I had done anything wrong? People threw it away as a piece of dirty linen by the Congress. The report of the Hyderabad Forensic Lab says: ?No action/deleted file/document making any recommendation to SSB (Subordinate Services Board) has been found?.
Don'tyou think the campaign went a little too far, too low, too personal in attacks?
Yes, that'strue. But the boot is on the other leg. We had only to react and retaliate in defence. It is they who started it in 2003.
What would you like to do to improve the standard of campaign?
On my part the BJP would do everything to evolve a system in which dignity of the individual and political party is maintained and the election campaign is civilised and dignified. But all will depend on the response of other individuals and groups. You cannot clap with one hand; you need the help of the other.
Addressing the MLAs after your election as leader of the BJP Legislative Party, you said, the test of the leadership lies in times of grave challenges. Would you elaborate?
I have been told that the finances of the State are in disarray. Therefore, I am faced with greater challenges to honour the commitments made to the people. This situation will not deter my government from delivering the goods to the people. That is the great challenge before my government and we will face it bravely.
What are your immediate challenges?
Put the finances of the State on rails, do everything to generate employment opportunities for our unemployed, provide relief to the daily waged workers and social security pension, and also provide an efficient and clean administration responsive to the hopes and aspirations of the people.
Your first tasks as CM?
To undo all the injustice that has been done to individuals or groups on political considerations. To provide justice to government employees and officers who have been punished by their refusal to act against the law of the land in obeisance to the whimsical orders of the previous Congress government.
Anything worth mentioning in the last 10 days of your office?
My government has increased the daily wages of workers from Rs. 75 to Rs. 100. We have also raised the social security pensions, including for the elderly, physically handicapped and desolate women and widows. Interestingly, the last raise was also made by my government five years back, with no increase by the Congress government in between during its tenure.
During the election campaign you stated that if voted to power, your government will not indulge in witch-hunting or be vindictive. At the same time, there are reports that during its last days Virbhadra government had been on MOU signing spree and showering other favours on individuals and parties.
When I said this, I did not mean that the BJP government will gloat over all cases of contravention of law and the rules. If any violation of law comes to our notice, we will not only ensure that law of the land prevails but also see that violators are brought to book. At the same time, I assure you that there will be no witch-hunting, no vindictive action.
What is the lesson of this election?
People are supreme, the real masters. Nobody should take them for granted. It is the sense of purpose, sincerity and honesty towards the people that pays in the long run.
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