Rajasthan BJP president Madan Lal Saini is busy placating rebels in his party. He is confident that any dissatisfaction will soon be put to rest as the BJP is “cadre-based”. Issues like mob-lynching will not have an impact on the “re-election” of Vasundhara Raje government, he claims. The work done by the Centre and State governments will help the BJP to come back to power, Saini told BusinessLine in an interview. Excerpts

You are one of the senior leaders of the BJP in the State. What is the basis of the BJP’s campaign this time?

We will fight this election on the basis of development works we have done at the State and the Centre. Sab ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas is our motto. For the first time in history, India has a government that works for the poor. Congress was in government for a long time, and gave some slogans for poor people, but did nothing for them. Deen Dayal Upadhyay, who said that the benefits of development must reach the last person in the queue, guides our words and actions. Schemes such as a health insurance for just ₹12 a day is an example. We have proved that corruption can be curbed. We have provided houses for the homeless, increased scholarships for girl students, including for higher studies abroad, strengthened the public distribution system and implemented the “justice at your doorstep” scheme that has helped thousands of people.

Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are contesting elections this time. Isn’t it a message that the Congress believes it has a chance to come back to power?

Congress leaders are fighting first among themselves, then they will fight elections.We don’t face any challenges in this election. The polling booth is the base of any democratic system. There is no such party in the world than the BJP which is strong at the level of polling booths. Our opponents do not have workers and leaders at the booth level. Congress thrives in dividing people. They cannot think for the country or the people. People will reject them.

We had to launch new schemes for the poor as the Congress did nothing except make some hollow promises. They could have done so many things but they used power for corruption. Congress failed to set up a political model for the people and for its own workers. They worked for a family. Now, people feel that our country will also progress like the Western countries.

Unemployment and farmers’ distress are two major issues that this State faces. It also witnessed mob lynching over cattle trade. Haven’t such actions resulted in anti-incumbency?

We have curbed unemployment. We have created about three lakh vacancies in various government departments. Everyone will not get a government job. Government’s job is to create opportunities. We have created 13 lakh openings in private sector. We have brought new technology in the field of agriculture. It has helped farmers to improve their income. We waived farmers’ loans. The policies of the Centre has helped in decreasing the input costs in farming.

The person who was killed in Alwar was involved in a case related to theft of cows,but he should not have been killed. No one has the right to take law into their hands. Our government has taken strict action against those who are involved.

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