It Will Be An Unprecedented Victory For The BJP-Led Alliance

Q/ Why go on a statewide Maha Janadesh Yatra? The yatra was launched to communicate with the people. When we are in the opposition, we do sangharsh (struggle); when we are in power, we believe in having samvaad (dialogue). This is a BJP tradition.

- Dnyanesh Jathar

Q/ A number of leaders from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party have joined the BJP. How many are in the queue?

A/ The queue is long. Activists and leaders do not see any future in the Congress and the NCP. These people [the Congress] oppose the abrogation of Article 370. We are correcting the mistake made at the time of independence by abrogating the article. At the same time, we have launched massive development work.

So activists and leaders from these parties feel that the future is with us; so they want to join. But we cannot accept everyone. We have an open-door policy for activists. But for leaders, we have a filtration policy.

Q/ What are the criteria for filtration?

A/ The personality of the leader, his track record, his mass appeal and merit—there are many criteria. We are focusing only on those who will stay with us for the long term.

Sharad Pawar says the BJP is using the threat of CBI and Enforcement Directorate inquiries to lure opposition leaders.

A/ How time has turned against him! They spent their entire life splitting parties and breaking away leaders, using various institutions to put pressure. I want to tell them to introspect about why people are leaving them. We have never used the CBI or the ED to lure anyone. We don’t need to do it; we have huge support.

Q/ Are you 100 per cent confident that the BJP and the Shiv Sena will fight the elections as allies?

A/ I am confident 101 per cent that we will fight the elections together.

Q/ What formula have you finalised for seat-sharing?

A/ We will go ahead as per our 50:50 agreement. There will be some changes here and there; some seats will be exchanged.