Lok Sabha polls: BJP will win 272 seats on its own, says Rajnath Singh

PURNIA (BIHAR): Bharatiya Janata Party will secure a clear majority, crossing the 272-seat mark on its own and propelling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by it past 300 seats, president Rajnath Singh has said, as he defended the party against allegations it was trying to polarise the electorate.
Saying the ‘mahaul’, or the atmosphere, pointed towards an absolute majority for BJP on its own, Singh said the party was on course to win around 85 seats in the battleground states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, crossing the 50-seat mark in UP for the first time since 1998.

"Right now it looks like we will be able to achieve the magic figure of 272," Singh told ET in an interview. "Our focus is on the magic number which begins with ‘3’... Aur uske aage do aankhen bhi hain (add two zeros after it)," he said, even snidely quipping that the Congress would barely get enough seats to be the main Opposition party.

"I am not suggesting this, but I am told their party leaders are. They could not muster up the courage to project Rahul Gandhi as prime minister." A succession of opinion polls over the past few weeks has forecast the NDA steadily inching past the 272-seat mark.

‘Modi and BJP not separate’

The latest poll by television channel NDTV telecast this week gave the NDA aclear majority of 275 seats, which, if it happens, will be the first time a single party or pre-poll coalition will have crossed the half-way mark on its own since 1984.

Congress and other parties have rubbished these opinion polls, but BJP’s confidence has been on the ascendant lately, with its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi taking on a clutch of regional parties, which had been touted as potential post-poll allies just a few weeks ago. In the past few weeks, Modi has criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu’s J Jayalalithaa and Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik, three regional satraps who had been widely expected in political circles to ally with the NDA upon its falling short of a majority.

Singh said these state governments needn’t fear any destabilisation efforts by the Centre, even though he did not rule out some of them collapsing on their own, singling out Samajwadi Party-led government in UP for special mention.

"We are saying we will not destabilise democratically elected state governments unless due to internal strife they fall on their own… Our ideology is not to break any political parties except if some members want to come on their own. I cannot rule out the possibility of state governments dissolving on their own like Samajwadi Party out of its own frustration," he said.

The growing forecasts in BJP’s favour have also been accompanied by a sharp rise in shrillness in the electoral discourse and increased personal attacks. Star campaigners of Congress and SP have attacked BJP and Modi, who has also returned the compliment with blistering attacks on the Gandhi family.

Congress has also sought to label Modi as anti-Muslim, seeking to capitalise on the fears of the community over the 2002 communal riots. The Muslim community nurses deep suspicion of BJP and Modi, who has so far not expressed the kind of apology long sought by his critics. Modi, unlike many other BJP leaders, has also refused to acquiesce to the political gesture of wearing a Muslim skullcap.

But Singh defended Modi’s action in not wearing a skullcap, saying what to wear or not was his personal decision.

"I don’t think by wearing a skullcap you are secular and not wearing it you are communal. If I am asked, I will wear a skullcap. I have not had a problem since childhood and if offered, I am happy to wear a skullcap. As far as Modi is concerned, he does not wear any headgear of any community. Or for that matter, he does not even sport chandan (sandalwood paste)," Singh said, offering what he said was proof of Modi’s non-partisan nature.

The BJP president also denied suggestions that Modi had eclipsed the party and sidelined other leaders. The party’s campaign posters and advertisement only carry large images of Modi, who also dominates the main electoral slogan. "I do not see Modi and BJP as two separate things. Everyone supplements each other."

Asked pointedly whether he would be part of a Modi Cabinet, Singh hinted otherwise. "The party has given me such a huge responsibility and my term is far from over. I have two years left as BJP president," he said.

The BJP president also hit out at the Congress charge that BJP and Modi in particular were bankrolled by a bunch of rich businessmen, specifically naming Gujarat-based industry group Adani.

Asked to respond to the Congress charge that Corporate India was supporting Modi during this election, Singh said: "This means Congress accepts that every other time Corporate India used to be with Congress, that it used to support Congress. Now at least they have confessed to the people of this country that big business throughout was supporting Congress. It is possible this time they (business houses) are not supporting anyone. Because they are not supporting them in this election, it is likely Congress feels they are supporting BJP."