Rahul Gandhi no longer a 'Pappu', we need a strong opposition for good governance: Sanjay Raut

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's challenger Rahul Gandhi has long overcome his image as a 'Pappu', said senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, stressing that the Congress president had put up a stiff fight before the BJP-led NDA. In an interview with DNA's Dhaval Kulkarni, Raut, who is also the executive editor of Sena mouthpiece Saamna, said the NDA will have to seek votes based on performance in government. Edited excerpts:

The Shiv Sena had announced it would fight polls sans an alliance with the BJP. However, it made a U-turn.

One has to take many decisions in politics without liking them. For the Lok Sabha, we were preparing to contest all 48 seats, but our hand was forced by conditions prevailing in the country, like in Kashmir. Senior BJP leaders started communicating with us and BJP president Amit Shah visited Matoshree [party chief Uddhav Thackeray's home]. It was then decided to give our relationship a second chance. The alliance pact was sealed honourably for the Sena and we got an extra Lok Sabha seat. As Uddhav Thackeray said, the power sharing will be 50:50.

The Sena claims the chief minister's post will go to them, but senior BJP ministers like Chandrakantdada Patil deny it.

I will not comment on who said what. The parleys happened between Uddhav Thackeray and Amit Shah, who head their respective parties. This led to the alliance being finalised. What they say is more important than others' claims.

Does Rahul Gandhi still retain his Pappu image?

Rahul Gandhi heads the Congress. He must be seen as such. We have our opinions about him, but in a democracy, the principal Opposition must be respected. A strong Opposition is necessary for good governance and for serving as checks-and-balance on the government. [Rahul Gandhi] has discarded his Pappu image long ago and created a challenge before the NDA. It is the decision of the Congress [if he is a prime minister material]. There are no set rules on who can become the prime minister in this country.

The BJP has walked away with incumbent Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, who will be their candidate in Nanded.

This is not an engineered defection. He had left us earlier due to local and personal reasons and has been with several parties in the past.

If the BJP falls short of a majority and there is a demand that the PM nominee be changed, what will be the Sena's stance?

Why should we reveal it now? For the moment, the BJP has said Modi is their Prime Ministerial nominee. This is the decision of the BJP, which is the largest party in the NDA, of which we are a constituent. We will ensure a stable government. It is the responsibility of all to prevent instability in the country. I don't think the BJP will fall short of a majority. Even if not like 2014, the result will be good. (On questions about the Modi wave) waves come and go, we will now have to seek votes based on Modi's tenure in power. When you are voted into power in a wave, you have to show your performance and then seek votes based on it.