‘We are going to damage the BJP’

Interview with Ghanshyam Tiwari, Bharat Vahini Party chief.

Published : Dec 05, 2018 12:30 IST

Ghanshyam Tiwari: "We have divided the BJP vertically."

Ghanshyam Tiwari: "We have divided the BJP vertically."

ONE of the biggest setbacks to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan came when its six-time MLA and senior leader Ghanshyam Tiwari quit the party in June 2018 citing irreconcilable differences with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. He floated a new party, Bharat Vahini Party (BVP), which is contesting 63 seats. Tiwari, 73, was Education Minister in Vasudhara Raje’s government during her first tenure. He owes much of his political training in government to the late Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Primarily from a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh background, he said any party that was invited to form the government would need the BVP’s support.

The BVP, which claims to represent the upper castes and talks of reservation based on economic backwardness, has an alliance with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party led by another BJP rebel, Hanuman Beniwal. Tiwari spoke to Frontline at his office in Jaipur, with a huge portrait of M.S. Golwalkar, the second sarsanghchalak of the RSS, looming in the background.

Excerpts:

The motto of your party is “Naya Vikalp; Behtar Vikalp” (New alternative; better alternative). What factors forced you to quit the BJP?

The State BJP moved away from its principles. There was no internal democracy. I wrote repeatedly to the central leadership. They agreed with me but were helpless. I had no majboori or reason to feel helpless. Why do you think the Enforcement Directorate is not investigating the Lalit Modi case? I spoke against the regime of goods and services tax [GST], demonetisation and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

You do not seem to be critical of the central leadership.

No, that is not the case. I have been attacking party president Amit Shah for his dictatorial style of functioning. The manner in which elections are being conducted is against constitutional principles and the system of parliamentary democracy that we have borrowed from Westminster. The presidential form of campaigning goes against parliamentary and inner-party democracy. It is also against the Representation of the People Act, where it is said that the largest single party will elect its leader.

They have compelled the MLAs and the people to accept the leadership of the incumbent Chief Minister. On the one hand, there is a pretence of following the parliamentary system of democracy, and on the other, a presidential form of government is being promoted and imposed.

How much of an impact will your party have? Some people say that the BVP and Beniwal’s party are fronts for the BJP so that the anti-incumbency vote does not go to the Congress.

We are going to damage the BJP more than the Congress. We have divided it vertically, just like the BJP split the Janata Party. We don’t have a single person from the Congress. The people of Rajasthan are against the BJP. The BJP will get the lowest number of seats; not more than 32. We are supporting independents and have left around 40 seats for Beniwal’s party.

Do you think that Central policies will have an effect on the election outcome?

When the Prime Minister campaigns, definitely it involves talking about Central policies. Policies such as foreign direct investment in retail are a big issue for small traders. Demonetisation and GST affected farmers badly. Otherwise, in Assembly elections, State issues will dominate.

Will you go back to the BJP?

There is no question of going back to the BJP. The time for going back is over. The party has become arrogant. They think they have a lot of money and can get things done. The Election Commission has put some curbs on spending but still parties such as the BJP are able to get a lot of funds. Where are the principles? They have given the ticket to people who crossed over from the Congress; the Congress has nominated those who quit the BJP. They have auctioned seats.

What do you make of the demand to construct a Ram temple?

No one is against the temple. But they should not practise double standards. Two hundred temples have been broken in Rajasthan. No one is talking about it.

Sign in to Unlock member-only benefits!
  • Bookmark stories to read later.
  • Comment on stories to start conversations.
  • Subscribe to our newsletters.
  • Get notified about discounts and offers to our products.
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment