In a departure from traditional narratives, the ongoing national elections in India are witnessing an unprecedented emphasis on development and growth over the next twenty-five years. Prominent BJP leader and candidate from Chandigarh, Sanjay Tandon, spoke to Tushar Gupta about the past ten years of the Modi government and what the future holds for the country after June 4, 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
Q1. The Modi Government has completed a decade, and looks favourite for another term. How do you evaluate the last ten years of the Prime Minister?
This is an unprecedented election. The electorate is focused on development and growth for the next twenty-five years. It is for the first time that corruption of the incumbent is not the story of the national elections. This decade speaks about the growth story of our nation under the astute leadership of PM Narendra Modi. His vision for the future has found resonance with the citizens of Bharat. Come 4th of June, the evaluation will be loud and clear with the results when people send us to the parliament with more than 400 seats.
Q2. Where do you see the next five years under the Modi Government, assuming they come back to power on June 4. What would be the areas of focus?
We have already embarked on a journey of economic growth and social development. This is going to be the landmark term where Bharat will attain the insurmountable heights in terms of its stature in the world. We are going to witness the arrival of Bharat as Vishwaguru. The Prime Minister has already hinted on some significant decisions in the first 125 days of the third term that will be critical to the long-term growth of this country. As witnessed in the last ten years, the development is all-inclusive, so we are not looking at any single area, but everyone, from women to farmers, and from youth to the people of villages.
Q3. In January, there were celebrations across India during the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir. Can you describe the sentiment here in Chandigarh?
Surreal. I, in my life thus far, have not seen so many tears of joy flow en masse. The long wait of 500 years was finally over when Ram Lalla returned to the temple from the tent. The entire country resonated with the name of Ram, and Chandigarh was no exception. It was like an early Diwali. Festivities and happiness were reverberating in the atmosphere. The air was thick with emotions, with teary-eyed people choking with some inexplicable joy. It was a moment that brought us all together, a moment that cannot be simply put into words. As Hindus and Indians we had our calling that moment. We were truly privileged to experience such a moment in our lifetimes.
Q4. Where do you see the role of women in our polity now? How has it changed in the last ten years, and what are the other areas of focus for the future years?
It is very apparent from the policy framework of the last decade that my party has worked on – there is no future or development as a nation without the participation of women in every field, especially politics. The women must be enabled to participate in every possible sphere and the Modi government has left no stone unturned in making sure that they are equal stakeholders. Be it the women’s reservation in the highest platform for representation i.e. the Parliament or in the grassroots through an array of welfare programmes. Be it empowering them with the Lakhpati Didi scheme for providing them capital for self-sustaining enterprises to Ujjawala Scheme where gas cylinders are provided to women for clean cooking gas. Empowering women has been the nucleus of the Modi Government’s policy framework, and it will continue for the years to come.
Q5. Coming to Chandigarh. There was a BJP MP for the last ten years who served the city. What are the expectations of the people now from a new MP-aspirant, but the same government?
Chandigarh, for long, has been labelled as a city of retired people. However, that is not true. The city is bursting with aspirations of the youth. We have to manoeuvre our policies in a manner that can capture the aspirations of our youth and launch Chandigarh as a hub for Finance, Healthcare, Sports and IT while keeping the sanctity of it being the City Beautiful. My vision is to provide my constituents with all the amenities that will enable them to fulfil their aspirations in this city and thus making this city an international city in its true sense while keeping its heritage and legacy intact.
Q6. How do you look at the political equation of the opposition? They are in an alliance in Chandigarh but not in Punjab? How do the Chandigarh voters view these dynamics?
They are insulting the intelligence of the voters. The AAP germinated from a movement against the corruption-ridden governance of the Congress party. Today they are partners in crime and corruption. So much so, in Punjab which is on the border with Chandigarh, they are at each other’s throat and in Chandigarh the Congress candidate is wearing the AAP banner around his neck. In Mohali, the AAP candidate is questioning the poor performance of the previous MP who was from the Congress party who is now their joint candidate in Chandigarh. Chandigarh voters have already made up their mind. They feel that the electorate cannot see through the sham of this unholy alliance only for the purpose of their political survival.
Q7. Congress candidate Manish Tewari has been hosting all the Congress leaders in Chandigarh including Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Does that give him any advantage?
There are two issues here. Firstly, the Congress candidate has already lost the mandate of his own party. More than half of the Congress party’s local cadre have left the party and joined the BJP. His presence in Chandigarh is problematic to his own party workers, let alone, the voters. Secondly, no leader, either of the Congress or the Aam Aadmi Party are using Chandigarh more than a transit to campaign in Punjab. Because they realise that every moment they spend campaigning in the Chandigarh constituency for a joint candidate, it shall leave their party cadres more embarrassed in Punjab where they are at each other’s throats.
Q8. Many know you as the local stalwart, someone who has cultivated a personal relationship with many families here since decades. How does it feel now to go back to them, requesting them for a mandate?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has touched every household in this nation. Chandigarh is no different. The love and support that people of Chandigarh are showering on me since the announcement of my candidature is very gratifying. They feel it is their responsibility to make me win. They even gave the slogan of our campaign “Humara Sanjay Tandon”.
Q9. Chandigarh is a city many look up to, given the planning, the cleanliness, the layout, and so forth. What are your Chandigarh-specific plans for the next five years?
The heritage and its planned layout distinguishes Chandigarh from many cities in the world. Chandigarh as a city has increased its green cover by 9 per cent. Chandigarh needs holistic infrastructural refurbishment. Given the influx from the neighbouring cities on a daily basis, a metro project that connects the tri-city area (Proposed from Morinda in Punjab to Kalka in Haryana) will bring a lot of relief in terms of traffic management. There will be immediate policy overhauling to address all kinds of housing issues pending with the administration. Right from need-based changes in Chandigarh Housing Board residences, reinstatement of sale in share-wise/floor-wise apartments, and implementing the transfer of ownership rights in the colonies. They will all be addressed on priority in our next term.
Q10. Congress has spoken about wealth redistribution, something that even Manish Tewari acknowledged on social media. Is that also something the residents of Chandigarh would be weighing on June 1 when they go out to vote?
The fallacy of Congress’ economic ideas is not alien to the voters of Chandigarh or India. In their manifesto, and in their rallies, they have repeatedly spoken of wealth redistribution. I am glad the Prime Minister left no stone unturned in highlighting the notorious plans of the Congress. From purely an economic perspective, wealth redistribution or inheritance tax, as an idea, is suicidal. It is almost like going back to the days of the License Raj, where the state can nationalise anything it wishes to.
My simple question is – will the Congress MPs also be a part of this wealth distribution process? The voters see through the nefarious plans of the Congress and they are going to reject this party on June 1.
