LUCKNOW, SEPT 29: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh is in the eye of a storm. As the Bharatiya Janata Party struggles to save its rocking citadel of Uttar Pradesh, there have been allegations that Singh, the lone star campaigner of the party, is reluctant to attend poll meetings and is fuelling the fire of factionalism. With talks of his imminent removal doing the rounds, Singh declares that if he is removed, he will not take it lying down. Excerpts from an exclusive interview: Who should be held responsible if the BJP's performance in the State is poor?
This election is being fought on national issues and its results will be a referendum on the Union Government's achievements. Similarly, the Assembly poll results will be a referendum on the State Government's achievements.
In case of a debacle or a victory, in fact, no one should be singled out; there should be collective responsibility. My government's achievements are praiseworthy. There is no reason for teachers and Stateemployees to be angry with the State Government. All their genuine demands have been met. My Government was the first to implement the Fifth Pay Commission report. Despite all this, if they are angry, the Government cannot help it.
Your detractors are complaining that you are not campaigning with the usual zeal in this election. You cancelled many public meetings. Is it true?
It is incorrect. Despite having neck and back pain, I have been addressing three or four public meetings everyday. Yes, one day last week, I could not go for electioneering because of severe pain. By levelling such allegations, they are testing my tolerance. There is a limit to everything.
Are you happy with the affairs in the State party unit?
It has been vitiated by some State leaders with the party high command maintaining silence. Is it not the duty of the Central leaders to deny that there is any move to replace me? But nobody has done it so far. A virtual tirade has been launched to humiliate andsideline me. But they won't succeed. I am as honest and dedicated a party worker as anybody else. My contribution in taking the party to this height is not less than that of any State or Central leader. I deserve the position I hold.
What do you have to say about your detractors?
They are active because they are being encouraged by some senior leaders. Everyone knows that Devendra Singh Bhole spoke against me in the Vidhan Sabha. He campaigned against some party candidates. The same Bhole was travelling in the car of a senior party leader in Kanpur last week. What message do senior leaders want to send to the people by this?
Rajesh Pandey, who led the tirade against me, is now one of the poll managers (of Atal Behari Vajpayee) in Lucknow.
Your detractors say you are not indispensable.
They should come and see my public rallies. In the Akbarpur rally on Tuesday, there were more than 40,000 people. They listened to me in rapt attention. They had not been hired for the meeting,and came to listen to me because they love me. The speculation about my dismissal has reached every corner of the State. This is bound to affect the mood of my followers.
Sakshi Maharaj, who is considered close to you, is spewing venom against the BJP. But you never criticised him.
Now that he has left the party, there is no point in talking about him.
Who is responsible for the cancellation of city party workers' meetings at your residence on September 25 and 28?
I don't know who got the meetings cancelled. But whoever has done it, has done a disservice to Atal Behari Vajpayee. The aim of the meetings was to increase the Prime Minister's vote percentage. The meetings were cancelled just because they were being organised by party corporator Kusum Rai. If the party leaders are so allergic to her, they should expel her.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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