Basant Panda, who was Thursday chosen as the state unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), aims to focus on strengthening the party at the grassroot level. The BJP leader also told Biswa Bhusan Mohapatra that the RSS does not play a role in the political decision making of the party. Excerpts from an exclusive interview with
Orissa POST.
What are the factors that helped you become the party’s state president?
To become a leader in the BJP, you do not need a lobby or great lineage. In this party, a tea seller has become the Prime Minister. I am working for the party for the past 25 years. I think the honesty I have shown while working in different positions successfully helped me reach this stage.
What will be your priorities and focus areas?
My priority will be to strengthen the party at the grassroot level and to work for the poor and the farmers. I am to unite workers in 50,000 villages across the state. We will also create awareness among the people about the different beneficiary programmes of the Modi government and failures of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government like the chit fund and mining scams.
What role has RSS played in the party and your appointment?
The BJP is an independent political outfit. The RSS does not play a role in the political decision making of the party. There are a lot of cultural and religious organisations supporting the party. I became the president with the help of all workers and leaders of the party.
Are there factions within the party? Why have some of the senior leaders not attended the function?
There is no faction within the party. I have spoken to some of the leaders who did not attend the function. They are very happy with this decision and have also wished me well. I will move forward along with all the leaders.
What strategy will you adopt to tackle the Congress and the BJD in the upcoming panchayat elections?
The BJD government is anti-people, anti-poor and anti-farmer. The health, education, drinking water, agriculture conditions are in a deplorable state. We will fight to change the situation. We will also intensify our fight against the BJD government and the Congress at the village level. We will move from village to village to create awareness among people about the failures of both parties.
How would you reconcile with the situation where the Centre seems to have a soft corner for BJD?
There is nothing to worry about the Chief Minister meeting Union ministers. In a federal structure, the state and Centre are two sides of a single coin and they are playing their roles. Some Union ministers are praising the state government. However, they are also attacking the BJD government.
Is Modi government misusing CBI to protect the BJD government?
No, the BJP government is not functioning like the UPA government. The CBI is investigating the chit fund scam cases under the supervision of the Supreme Court and not under the supervision of the Centre. I do not know under what circumstances Union minister Jual Oram made such a statement.
