BJP President Rajnath Singh is doing a tightrope walk, trying to consolidate his authority even as the party is pulled in different directions by factionalism. He talked to Varghese K George on a wide-range of issues involving the BJP and NDA. Excerpts:

You have declared that the BJP is in election mode...

Chances are very high for an early election. The CPM will not compromise on the nuclear deal issue and the Government is set to fall.

You are claiming to be ready for elections but isn’t the BJP struggling to stand on its feet?

We are ready for the battle. Our ongoing programme — “BJP at every polling booth” — is a huge success. In some states it has already achieved 100 per cent success. For instance, in Gujarat.

But in UP, your home state, things are really bad for the BJP. Why?

I admit that we are not as strong as we used to be. But things have improved from the time of Assembly elections. Parliament elections will be vastly different from the Assembly one. I don’t think the Brahmins have joined the BSP permanently. They will come back. The Scheduled Caste base of the BSP is eroding already.

The BJP’s alliances are also not working for it. Are you not failing to manage partners?

There are minor issues with the Shiv Sena, but by and large the NDA alliance is intact and it will expand before the elections. We will have new partners.

Will the next elections be won by a Third Front Government of some sorts, given that regional parties and the Left are moving closer?

... contd.