PM Modi said that BJP is not in favour of suppressing allies.
PM Modi during his interview with ANI weighed in on the ally woes of NDA and whether BJP is looking to get new partners before 2019 elections.
In an extensive interview with ANI, PM Modi spoke about a wide range of topics including his relationship with Lutyens’ Delhi, upcoming 2019 electoral battle, the Rafale deal, Shiv Sena’s tantrums, the Sabarimala verdict, the Triple Talaq bill, Grand Alliance, Congress, possible ordinance on Ram Temple, farm loans, surgical strikes and former RBI governor Urjit Patel’s tenure.
PM Modi's attention was drawn to allegation by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu that the efforts being made by Telangana Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao to form an alliance has the blessings of Modi.
"I am not aware that some coalition is being made by KCR," Modi replied.The Prime Minister was also asked about the unhappiness expressed by some of the BJP allies, like Shiv Sena, from time to time and whether they were indulging in 'muscle flexing'.
His attention was particularly drawn to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's apparent attack on him when he said that "chowkidar chor hai (guard is the thief) , echoing Rahul Gandhi's oft-repeated line of attack on Narendra Modi.In his response, he said, "Sometimes, some expectations are not met and some allies feel that they could benefit by putting pressure" on the BJP.
"Some (allies) feel that such issues could be resolved through discussions.... But our effort is to take everyone along and listen to everyone," Modi added.He emphasised that he was committed to give importance to regional aspirations as he believes that the country cannot be run by ignoring regional aspirations. That is why BJP is more successful.
The Prime Minister noted that the BJP, despite getting full majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, took every ally along, adhering to the coalition dharma."Even today when we run the government, there is consensus in decision-making," he said."It is true that states have their own level of politics. Our allies wish to grow and we too want them to grow. We do not want that we should grow at the cost of allies," Modi added.
Watch PM Modi's full interview here:
Making a comparison with the Congress, he said "it is a speciality of Congress-led alliance that all allies are those who have come out of the Congress after raising their voice against the Congress or emerged because of Congress-opposition. So when they approach the Congress, Congress usurps them."We are different. Those who associate with us, they prosper. So our effort remains that our allies blossom."
Asked whether he expected more parties to join the NDA, Modi said that process has been continuing since 2014 and referred to the small parties of North East which had joined the BJP-led coalition.
Queried whether BSP would be joining the NDA, he said, "I don't think any sensible person will spell out such things on TV, as to who will join and who cannot."
Asked whether there was any move of film stars-turned-politicians Rajnikanth and Kamala Hassan to join the NDA and improve the NDA'S footprint in South India , he said, "We are continuously striving to expand our base. We are ready to take everyone along, those who want to come with us, those with whom we can walk. It is linked to our strengthening the regional aspirations."
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