Rahul Gandhi is maligning nation's image, says Kailash Vijayvargiya

In conversation with Anand Mishra, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who holds charge of West Bengal for his party talks at length over issues like Dalit and Hindutva politics, Rahul Gandhi and  BJP’s focus on states.

Jignesh Mevani held a rally on Dalit issues in Delhi after the Bhima Koregaon controversy in Maharashtra and attacked BJP: How does BJP look at it.

Jignesh is just the face. This is entirely a conspiracy hatched by Congress. Congress made him an MLA. Congress has always played this role of divide and rule and it is once again playing that dangerous game using these faces in the front.

After Una, it was UP and then Maharashtra. Do dalit uprisings in various states not pose a challenge to BJP in 2019 general elections.

I am not saying the problems of dalits in the nation have been solved totally but Modi government has taken maximum efforts towards welfare and empowerment of dalits. Schemes of the central government have been made with focus on the poor, the weaker sections and the dalits. Some people who are fearful of Modiji’s popularity are, in desperation. trying to use such faces.

Rahul Gandhi during his Bahrain visit said he will change Congress in six months and expressed confidence that the party will win 2019 polls. He also attacked Modi government over employment generation and divisive politics. Your Take.

Congress will be changed only if it remains. What is happening to Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi is before everyone to see. Besides, I think no national level leaders gives such cheap remarks, which sully the image of the nation like the one he made in Bahrain. He is doing politics even there. Not just doing politics, he is maligning the image of the nation.

As BJP’s General Secretary in-charge for West Bengal how do you look at Trinamool Congress having organised a Brahmin and Purohit sammelan there. How do you look at it? Can this reorientation take away from the BJP some of the electoral gains that it was hoping to gain on Hindutva plank.

No it will not damage us. Everybody knows our ideology. They know that we have not changed our ideology since the time of Jansangh, But those are changing their colours like chameleons due to vote bank politics  have got exposed. In last two-three years after Modi became Prime Minister, a massive change has come in the political atmosphere of the nation. In particular, those politicians and political parties, which used to do politics of appeasement, those who claimed to be secular while going to Madrasas and accused those visiting temples of communalism are now visiting temples and sporting tilaks, wearing the sacred thread (janeu) and calling themselves as Hindus.

TMC member Manju Basu who was fielded by BJP as its candidate from Noapara, backed out saying she is still with TMC. Isn’t it a setback for BJP?

It is politics of pressure. TMC’s candidate there is a Mafia there. She has backed out from the fight under the pressure of Mafias.

How does Mukul Roy leaving TMC and joining BJP play out. Will his induction benefit like that of Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam.

Definitely. Mukul Roy was the backbone of TMC and had played a big role since the birth of TMC to its ascendance to power. TMC’s backbone has broken and we will gain hugely in the coming polls. Our vote percentage rose by almost five times in last few elections and Mukul ji has a a big role in it.

Who after Mukul Roy joining BJP from TMC: There was some buzz about K D Singh.

There are many people but we will induct people without taint. K D Singh ji has not approached us so far.

BJP’s challenge in West Bengal is of low vote base like in Odisha. So while you increase votes, you do not win seats. What are your hopes in 2019 general elections.

We are gaining. In last bye-election our votes increased by five times. We will also make huge gains in upcoming two bye-elections. You will see that in future.

In your home state Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan is CM for last three terms. Besides anti incumbency., Besides Congress there does not appear to be as a divided house now as it was in past.

While Congress remains a completely divided House. Under Shivraj Singh Chouhan, works have been done towards the progress of farmers, women empowerment, social welfare. BJP will return to power in MP.

Do you think that after Gujarat election results, BJP may have to work hard in 2018 when assembly elections are due in states.

Modi ji has done work. Politics of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas that Modi carried out against the on-going politics of appeasement, is working well. A recent survey by a big group said 79 percent people still prefer Modi. That is a huge percentage. I feel we will get a better mandate than 2014 people will give their mandate for the good work done in last five year.