Going without a CM candidate has worked for us: Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay

As Delhi heads for fresh Assembly elections to elect a new government, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay talks to HT about the BJP's plans, contesting polls without a CM candidate and countering an aggressive AAP.

As Delhi heads for fresh Assembly elections to elect a new government, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay talks to HT about the BJP's plans, contesting polls without a CM candidate and countering an aggressive AAP.

After so many flip-flops, the BJP finally decided for elections…
I don't see any delay. I've been maintaining since day one that we are ready for elections. At the same time, we said if we get an invite from the Lieutenant Governor we will critically examine the situation and respond. As soon as the L-G invited us, barely in an hour we informed him that we will not be able to form a government. Unlike Arvind Kejriwal who moved the court demanding dissolution of the assembly and then wrote to the L-G that they were still trying to form the government, the BJP has been clear in its stand. I'm not Kejriwal who changes his stand every minute.

Eight months ago you had Harsh Vardhan as the chief ministerial candidate, what has changed now?
Our party believes in collective leadership and that is how we fought the elections in Haryana and Maharashtra too. We are quite confident that we will get a clear majority this time and whoever the collective leadership chooses will lead the state. The strategy of going faceless has worked in the two states and this will be used in Delhi too.

Will you also contest?
Being the state unit chief, my job is to ensure party's win. As far as my contesting the elections is concerned, it is for the party to decide. Whatever they think is best for me I will abide by it.

What makes you confident of getting a clear majority this time?
The work done by the Modi government and the fact that only the BJP can provide a stable government would be the focus of our campaign. We will raise issues such as power, water, unauthorised colonies, corruption, etc.

What will be your poll strategy to counter AAP and the Congress?
Our strategy is simple: we have to win back the trust of the people. The trust was broken first by the Congress and then again by AAP. People had opted for AAP in the last elections but AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal betrayed the people. He left Delhi in a lurch to fulfil his ambition of becoming the Prime Minister and we all know where he stands now.

Do you consider AAP a formidable opponent?
Every party is an opponent for us. We can't take anyone lightly. Since AAP has been levelling most allegations against us, we will have to expose them.