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The Rediff Interview/ Gopinath Munde

'Unless a politician has a strong base, he cannot survive in the minefield of national politics'

Gopinath Munde has never been secretive about his ambitions. He wanted the chief minister's post when he was the deputy chief minister in the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra. After the alliance was thrown out of power by the NCP-Congress coalition, he is believed to have sabotaged attempts by the saffron alliance to claw its way back to the Mantralaya because the Sena would not concede the CM's post to the BJP.

And now, when the NCP-Cong government seems to be cruising along comfortably, Munde has embarked upon an ambitious programme to create an independent identity for his party -- independent of its long-time ally, the Shiv Sena. He calls it -- shat-pratishat BJP (100 % BJP). His target, once again, seems to be the corner office on the sixth floor of the Mantralaya.

On Monday, his ambition received a seal of approval from the party when he was appointed a vice-president in BJP chief Bangaru Laxman's new team.

Shaunak Nachare spoke to the leader over the telephone moments after his appointment was announced:

How does it feel to be appointed one of the BJP's seven national vice-presidents?

It is a big honour. I am very happy.

Was this appointment unexpected?

No, I knew it was coming. Because the senior BJP leadership -- Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishan Advani -- sounded me out in Nagpur during the BJP's convention there recently and asked me if I was willing to take up the responsibility. I immediately said yes. So, the party has taken the decision after taking me into confidence.

Does your entry into national politics mean you are saying good-bye to Maharashtra politics?

Unless a politician has a strong base, he cannot enter and survive in the minefield of national politics. Maharashtra is my political base, there is no question of distancing myself from state politics. I will have to maintain my presence in the region, and I will. And I will surely try to ensure that the BJP comes to power in the state.

With or without the Sena?

I am going to do my best to improve ties with the Sena.

Then what happens to your shat-pratishat BJP programme?

We will try our best to expand our organisational base. But this does not conflict with the aims of the alliance.

You had recently attacked the Sena during the campaigning for the Kalyan-Dombivili elections. You even called the Sena's Hindutva fake.

When I am campaigning for my party during an election, I have to attack the opponents. This is part of electoral politics...I have to do it for the party.

Now you seem to have entered the sugar politics as well...your panel secured a majority in the elections to the Amba Co-operative sugar factory in Beed?

After we lost power I had been able to find a lot of spare time and I have spent much of it to strengthen the sugar industry in Marathwada. Congress leaders in Western Maharashtra have developed the sugar industry well, but those in Marathwada have converted sugar factories into centres of corruption. It is my dream to set up 30 sugar factories in the state and I am already working towards this in Marathwada...a sugar factory is coming up in almost every district. In another four years you will see saffron sugar all over the state. Earlier the sugar industry was the preserve of some people who held farmers and workers to ransom...I want to create a powerful alternative in the sugar industry.

What goal have you set for yourself as a BJP vice-president?

I want to bring into the BJP's fold all the social groups that have stayed away from it, like farmers, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, etc. The new responsibility is a challenging one, but I am eager to carry it out to the best of my ability.

ALSO SEE:
Munde, Khurana among seven BJP vice-presidents

The Rediff Interviews

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