A lot of work remains to be done in rural areas: Advani's son

LK Advani's son Jayant, who is guiding BJP's campaign in Gandhinagar, is unruffled about reports that the opposition will put up a strong fight this time in what is seen as BJP's pocketborough. However, he does admit in an interview with DNA that the rural areas are tough to crack.
 
What is the response you are getting from people during the campaigning in Gandhinagar constituency?
I am confident that the BJP will win the seat again by a handsome margin. The response in the urban areas is very good but the villages are a different ball game. A lot of ground work needs to be done to reach out to the voters.

Do you feel that Congress candidate Suresh Patel and several independents including Mallika Sarabhai may play spoilsport for Advani?
Advani's stature among voters is high. His opponents don't stand a chance. His victory margin should be high if there is a high turnout. That's why we are emphasising that people should come out and vote.

What do you see as the main issues in this election?
This is a Lok Sabha election. The main issues are terror and price rise. We are highlighting the failure of the Congress government to tackle terrorism, price rise and unemployment. We are highlighting what the NDA, if voted to power, wants to do for various sections of the society - women, senior citizens, farmers, armed forces, and young people.

Do you think local issues are overshadowing national issues?
Yes, local issues might be important for people. But I don't think any person can remain unaffected by terror. The average person wants to feel secure and it is the government's duty to provide safety to citizens. At the local level, people also see how the state has progressed under chief minister Narendra Modi and what good work he has done.

The BJP keeps projecting the Ram Mandir issue during elections. Do you feel the issue has any connect with the young and educated voter whom the BJP is trying to reach out to?
Ram Mandir is part of the BJP's manifesto but in an era of coalition politics we have to govern with a common minimum programme and so the issue has taken a back seat. But a large section of the society still believes the issue is relevant.