Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, who formally launched the BJP's election campaign in Kerala here last week, spoke to ROY MATHEW about the party's poll plank and objectives. Excerpts:
Your party is squeezed between two strong fronts both in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. How do you propose to tackle this situation?
No, we are not contesting to form a government. We are contesting to be a formidable Opposition party in Kerala. Therefore, there is no need for an alliance. Kerala politics is polarised between the LDF and the UDF. Therefore, a third party presently can play only the role of the Opposition. During the five years [in Opposition], we will perform and convince the people that we should be the governing party next time. I may candidly admit that we are asking for votes to be in the Opposition, not to be the ruling party.
Do you consider the Congress your main opponent or the CPI(M)?
I think both, equally. The CPI(M) is ruling in the State and the Congress is ruling at the Centre. There is an anti-incumbency factor against the CPI(M) government in Kerala, and utter disappointment with the Congress-ruled government at the Centre. In some constituencies, our main opponent will be the CPI(M), and in some others, the main adversary will be the Congress.
Earlier, there was an allegation that the BJP in Kerala shifted votes in favour of the Congress-led UDF. Now, some feel that you are being soft towards the CPI(M).
That is totally baseless. I dismiss this allegation lock, stock and barrel. Our workers will only vote for BJP candidates. And where there is no BJP candidate, they will come and work in the adjacent constituency. But they will vote neither for the CPI(M) nor for the Congress.
You have said that your party's main plank will be price rise, corruption, black money and the scam-tainted government. Do you have a State-specific plank?
About three million Keralites are working outside India. And an equal number is working elsewhere in India. This demonstrates that there are no employment opportunities in Kerala. People from Kerala are doing exceedingly well outside. There is nothing wrong with their persona — they are diligent, intelligent and hardworking. However, successive governments have not made any plans for the development of the State. So our vision for Kerala will be to create jobs here. Employment generation will be the major plank. Kerala has great potential for tourism as well. Even pilgrims can be attracted by building facilities. When there is no vision, there could not be any planning.
When there is no planning, there could not be any projects. Once BJP MLAs enter the Kerala Assembly, we will ask them to prepare a vision document so that we can convince the people to give us votes to rule the State in accordance with that vision.
Several political leaders have changed sides in Kerala just before the election. Is that a healthy trend?
In the BJP, that has not happened. It is not a healthy trend for democracy.
But Alphons Kannanthanam joined the BJP after the CPI(M) allotted him a ticket to contest the election.
He was an independent MLA. He never joined the CPI(M). So, he did not change sides. He cannot be accused of defection.
What is the message you are giving out by inducting him into the BJP national executive immediately after he joined the party?
He was an honest man dedicated to the development of Kerala. When good people join you, there is the message that the BJP is not untouchable, even for such intellectuals. They feel it is the right party to join.
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