The north-eastern State of Arunachal Pradesh has always been in the news for the past many years. Of late, it is in the news because State Assembly elections are scheduled to be held on October 13. Amba Charan Vashishth sent a set of questions for an interview to which Shri Tai Tagak, BJP Arunachal Pradesh General Secretary and Spokesperson has sent written answers. Excerpts:
BJP is in the election mode as elections are scheduled to take place for the State Assembly. What is the scenario as far as BJP is concerned?
The BJP’s preparations for the State Assembly polls are going on smoothly and in full swing. We are very much confident of a good performance.
On how many seats the BJP is going to contest and the minimum you hope to win?
BJP is going to contest on 31 (Thirty one) seats and we hope to win at least 13 (Thirteen).
Is there any alliances or understanding with any other party in the State?
Not now, but if the situation demands we are open to alliance with like-minded parties.
What are the issues on which the BJP is fighting the elections?
Mainly fighting to root out corruption. We hope to bring sweeping change in State’s political scene.
Besides the ruling Congress, who are the other main players in the elections?
NCP, Trinamool Congress, People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), Janata Dal (U), Naga People’s Front (NPF)
There have been reports of desertions from the BJP to the ruling Congress, notably of Shri Kiren Rijiju, ex-MP. How is this situation going to adversely affect the BJP?
Individuals come and go in a political party and sometimes cause temporary setback for both. Here the whole State BJP unit organisation and at district levels are intact. Not even a single worker has gone with him. As far as the State Assembly elections are concerned, the government in Delhi mostly matters and has direct bearing for backward State like Arunachal Pradesh.
Hindutva is one of the corner-stones of the BJP ideology. How does the common voter in the State feel about it?
The common voters are misled by other political parties, especially the Congress Party saying that Hindutva is the secret agenda of the BJP to destroy the churches and work against non-Hindu religious believers. However, period of the BJP led NDA government at the Centre has falsified this propaganda and generated popular appreciation amongst the educated population and intellectuals about Hindutva.
Who are the main national leaders expected to campaign in the elections?
Shri Rajnath Singh, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Smt. Bijoya Chakravorty, Shri Shatrughan Sinha and Smt. Smriti Irani, etc.
Will youth and women get their share of seats in the elections?
We have few youth faces in the party.
How active are they in BJP?
BJP is growing into a strong party in Arunachal Pradesh. Most of the young faces are party cadre workers. It was during the past six years that we could produce a large number of committed party cadre workers.
There have been occasional reports of Chinese intrusions and its military movement on Tibet border with Arunachal Pradesh. What would you say on it?
Arunachalees are true patriotic people. The long time undue neglect by the successive governments at the Centre has isolated the State from the national mainstream. People of Arunachal Pradesh want early development of infrastructure on the Indian side of the Sino-India border on par with the Chinese build-ups. They want to develop the old barter trade routes to modern trade routes and open up trade ties with China, which would encourage people to people direct talk and interaction.
Sometime back the Government of India opened certain land routes for trade with Tibet. What is the position in your State? Has it benefited Arunachal Pradesh?
Arunachal Pradesh had several barter trade routes with Tibet and the State was not having direct border with China. However, none of these could so far be developed into proper trade route and these could not be continued after the 1962 Sino-Indian war in Arunachal Pradesh. The Government of India has opened trade route at Nathula Pass in the State of Sikkim.
