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The Rediff Interview/Sahib Singh Verma

'I feel there was a deep conspiracy to tarnish my image'

Who are the leaders in the Delhi BJP who wanted to oust you?

I don't want to name anyone.

But wasn't it the factionalism within the Delhi BJP that resulted in your resignation?

I do not think there is factionalism in the Delhi BJP. I don't find much logic in the charge that factionalism is the main cause for my removal. But then I don't find much logic in the charge that because of high prices and the crime rate, the chief minister should be sacked.

I do not know if my own people betrayed me and stabbed me in the back. I am not overly bothered about that too because I am now preoccupied with the election campaign.

But when I look back, I feel that the atmosphere in the last six months was such that everything came on a collision course against me. There were the dropsy deaths for which I was not responsible. The Delhi government is not producing edible oil. It come from other states. But the blame for the dropsy deaths fell on me. I feel there was a deep conspiracy to tarnish my image.

Who do you think conspired against you to bring you down?

I do not want to name the people.

But why didn't you take up these issues with the party leadership?

I took up these issues with the party leadership and Prime Minister Vajpayeeji. They understood my viewpoint. But the party leadership felt that if there is a change of leadership, it will improve the party's chances in the forthcoming elections. Then I told the party president and the prime minister that if my stepping down will result in the people's mood changing even 1 per cent, I will be happy to resign.

But your opponent in the party in Delhi -- Madan Lal Khurana -- wanted to become the chief minister.

It is not fair to call Khurana my opponent. We are good friends. I do not know whether he wanted to become chief minister again.

Did you suggest Sushma Swaraj's name as the new chief minister?

Yes, I suggested her name, but it was not meant to browbeat anyone. Sushmaji is the party's tallest woman leader. And she has won from south Delhi parliamentary constituency a number of times.

But has Sushma Swaraj made that 1 per cent difference as chief minister?

I do not know. It is too early to make a sweeping statement. In fact, it is not I but the party leadership that should answer your question.

Why did you postpone your plan to join the Union Cabinet? Were you once again browbeaten by the party leadership?

I decided not join the Cabinet immediately as I felt it would constrain my electioneering in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The prime minister was so happy to hear my suggestion that he wept holding me. I will join the Cabinet after the election.

Your Jat supporters in Delhi and Rajasthan are said to be extremely unhappy with your removal as chief minister. Won't it affect the BJP's prospects in the election?

That all my supporters are Jats is a canard spread by my opponents in the party. By linking me with the Jat community alone, they want to alienate other rural people in Delhi who are solidly behind me.

The constituency I represent in Delhi is a purely urban area where there are not many Jats. It is unfortunate that many in the party want to limit my political base to Jats.

I am now trying to bring together all the rural people in states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh under a social organisation. It is time the rural poor organise and assert themselves. There is no leadership for the rural masses across the country. And I am ready to take up their cause.

You mean you want to float a separate party?

No. It will be just a social organisation. I have no ambition to float a political party.

The Rediff Interviews

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