The Gujarat electorate doesn’t accept the concept of a third party although the state’s voters tend to listen to all contenders for power, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on November 14.
Shah said this when he was asked about the presence in the fray of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a state where electoral contests have traditionally been between his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
“It’s not appropriate to say the contest in Gujarat has been always between the BJP and Congress,” Shah said in an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi at News18’s Gujarat Adhiveshan programme.
“There was a time, when Keshubhai Patel formed his own party. Shankersinh Vaghela also launched a party,” Shah, who belongs to Gujarat, said, also citing the example of Chimanbhai Patel.
He added that Gujarat had never accepted the concept of a third party. Gujaratis listen to everyone, but when it comes to voting, they are aware of their choice, said Shah.
“Let the ballot boxes open, the results will be obvious,” he added.
AAP, which is in power in Delhi and Punjab, is waging a high-decibel campaign in Gujarat, where it is hoping to emerge as an alternative to both BJP and the Congress and expand its political footprint in next month’s two-phase election.
No infighting seen
Shah was also asked about the prospects of infighting in the BJP considering that the ruling party has dropped many incumbent Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from its slate of candidates.
The Union home minister said the party always tended to replace 30 percent of its candidates with new faces in every election.
“I am a worker who has been following BJP’s election process since 1995; every time, around 30 percent faces don’t get repeated. We don’t see any tall leader becoming a rebel.”
He added: “It’s true many people get upset when a decision is not in their favour, but BJP has a culture where leaders don’t work against the interests of the party. The party has a disciple and tradition which is never compromised.”
While releasing its lists of candidates for the upcoming polls, the party dropped as many as 40 incumbent MLAs. It has fielded many fresh faces to counter anti-incumbency in elections to the 182-member state assembly.
“I am from Gujarat and have been talking to leaders of the state, everyone is committed to ensure party’s landslide victory,’’ Shah added.
Asked if any uncertainty had emerged in Gujarat after Narendra Modi left for Delhi in 2014 to become prime minister, Shah said: “There was never any kind of uncertainty. Anandiben Patel became the chief minister soon after Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister. She was replaced two months before attaining the age of 75.”
He added: “The party’s rule allows (a member) to work till 75. Later, Vijay Rupani served as the chief minister for five years and now under the leadership of Bhupender Patel, we are contesting the elections.”
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