| 'We want to become the second force' |
Suave and soft-spoken, Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister and MP from Secunderabad in the dissolved Lok Sabha is one of the BJP's senior-most leaders in Andhra Pradesh. Amid the din and bustle of the election campaign, he talks to Y. Mallikarjun on a variety of issues, including the BJP's equation with the TDP and his party's strategy . Excerpts from an interview:
Won't the tie-up with the Telugu Desam Party affect your party's growth in the long run? The BJP could end up like the Left parties, which secured 35 seats with the TDP but fared miserably after breaking with it.
The BJP can't be compared with the communists. Ours is a mass-based party and we have our cadre. The alliance had benefited us both and without the tie-up, the BJP would not have won the dozen Assembly and 7 Lok Sabha seats. Similarly, the TDP had managed to win with narrow margins in 70-75 constituencies. Without us, [the] TDP would not have come to power. The alliance is a political compulsion as the BJP's main aim is to ensure that the Vajpayee Government returns to power at the Centre.
In 1999, you were given 24 Assembly and 8 Lok Sabha seats. Why was the party, despite claims of growth, not given more than 27 Assembly and 9 Lok Sabha seats to contest this time?
The BJP's following has increased. This time if we win even 19 seats as against the 12 seats we had in the dissolved House, it will be a sizeable improvement.
Our strategy is to become the second force here. We are strong in Telangana, we are now concentrating on coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
The alliance will not affect our growth. We have the potential to win 40 to 50 Assembly seats in the next four to five years.
The seat-sharing with the TDP has caused widespread resentment. Leaders are accused of protecting their own interests. What's your comment?
No, no. We have national priorities. We have to retain 36 Parliament seats from Andhra Pradesh. Keeping that in view we had to sacrifice some Assembly seats. There will be some dissatisfaction.
Recent incidents of indiscipline suggest your party is no different from others.
Ninety-nine per cent of our cadre is disciplined. You can't compare the BJP with the Congress.
In spite of all that the election committee finalised the list. But the Congressmen are not in a position to do that. They are sitting in Delhi to finalise their list.
The BJP revived the Telangana issue and shelved it for now. Is it not opportunistic politics? How will the Congress-TRS alliance affect the BJP's chances?
No, it is not opportunistic politics. I want the country to prosper. A separate Telangana is not a priority issue. Though we have the concept of smaller States, we have kept aside the issue as our governance is based on [the] NDA agenda.
The Congress-TRS alliance will not affect the BJP's chances as there is no Telangana sentiment. The farmers want water and current. Those are the real issues.
Was the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu's decision to dissolve the Assembly on the naxalite issue a mistake? Do you support the idea of holding talks with the naxalites?
What Mr. Naidu did at that time was correct. It is not a small issue. The State's development depends on peace.
It is not wise to call for negotiations unless they [naxalites] openly denounce violence and declare commitment to the power of ballot.
The Congress, which banned the PW when in power, wants that talks should be held. It is a very irresponsible party.
How do you justify fielding a rank outsider like film actress Vijayashanti from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha segment?
I don't want to split the majority votes. She has charm and appeal. Victory will be ours if we get 75 to 80 per cent of votes in the three rural Assembly segments — Tandur, Chevella and Vikarabad.
Her appeal would have an impact on Muslim women. It will be a big advantage if we get 2 to 3 per cent of [the] minority votes.
