UNION HOME MINISTER Rajnath Singh has been mentioned as a likely consensus candidate for prime ministership if the BJP misses the majority mark in the Lok Sabha polls.
A man of measured words, he is known for his ability to take everyone along. The former BJP president has completed 51 election campaign meetings and is confident of hitting a century. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Singh says the BJP will win 73 seats in Uttar Pradesh.
He defends the candidature of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in Bhopal, bats for abrogation of Article 35A of the Constitution saying it has done more harm than good to Jammu and Kashmir and discloses that he did not want the BJP to form a coalition government there in 2015. Excerpts:
The BJP has made a shift from development plank of 2014 to ultranationalism in 2019. Why?
Development and good governance are our election issues even today. But national pride is important for citizens. If our soldiers have done good work, we must appreciate it. To term it ultranationalism is not correct.
Is the mahagathbandhan a worry in Uttar Pradesh?
The Congress is fighting separately so where is the gathbandhan? The SPBSP [Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party] alliance is not credible.
People know that they may or may not be together tomorrow. The BJP's target is winning 73 seats in UP. It should not be 72 but it can definitely be 74.
Priyanka Gandhi's entry in UP can split Hindu votes.
Priyanka has been in politics for some time, working for her family members. She is not a new entrant. As far as Hindu votes are concerned, the Congress can get 2 to 4 per cent of the votes there.
Rahul Gandhi is contesting from two seats this time.
The Congress fears it will lose Amethi. That is why Rahul Gandhi ran away from Amethi.
You, as party president, helped Shatrughan Sinha get BJP ticket in 2014. Now his wife, Poonam Sinha, is your opponent in Lucknow.
Denne historien er fra May 05, 2019-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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Denne historien er fra May 05, 2019-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock
