Speaking exclusively to TOI after his party's impressive performance in the Assam assembly elections, BJP president

asserts the mandate was not only a fallout of anti-incumbency, it was a vote for a positive alternative.

Diwakar and Rajeev Deshpande

You would have reasons to feel satisfied with the results of the state elections?

When you took charge, you said the BJP should strive for long-term political ascendency. How is this plan progressing?

Some say BJP won Assam as it did not raise divisive issues. It helped draw votes from sections that might have hesitated.

What were the main issues that resulted in the BJP's success in Assam?

You feel the Congress did not lose because of anti-incumbency?

The BJP's Assam win is being seen in the light of the state having 34% minority population that hasn't supported you. But the party has still won...

The election results have been interpreted in the light of the slogan Congress-mukt Bharat. How do you see it? The Congress feels the celebration is premature as it still got more seats than the BJP in the latest round of polls?

But as we approach two years of Modi government, how far has the BJP succeeded in realising this slogan?

Your success can be the reason for moves to create a grand alliance, like in Bihar, as your opponents come together.

You must have begun thinking of the 2019 LS election. Who will be your main rivals?

Many felt that you did not need the AGP in Assam.

BJP raised the debate over Bharat Mata ki Jai and JNU in the context of nationalism.

But will things change?

In the Kerala election, minority votes moved to the Left front... even those who usually voted for the Congress-led front.

If the government's initiatives begin to show results, will that help the BJP renew its mandate in 2019?

The PM seems to be laying a lot of stress on use of technology...

Can we ask you again, who will be your main opponent in 2019?

You have been working like a machine since you became BJP chief. Do you take a holiday?

Digvijaya Sigh has spoken of the need for a surgery in the Congress.

Himanta Biswa Sarma has spoken of the styles of functioning of Rahul Gandhi and you. He says you pay attention and even take notes.

Can anyone challenge the Gandhis in the Congress?

It's been alleged that BJP is anti-Dalit, like in the case of Rohith Vemula's suicide.

It seems you have a blueprint for a big expansion keeping the 2014 win as the cornerstone.

How will you assess the Uttarakhand central rule episode. Did the courts not accept the rationale for central rule?

Politically, how do you view the decision?

But when the (rebel Congress) MLAs came to you...

How has the government fared in handling the economy?

There are reports that you have worked to coordinate closely with RSS.

It can be said that you won't be able to repeat the sweeps in several states in 2019, you will surely lose some seats.

Taking time off after a busy election schedule, BJP presi dent Amit Shah looked relaxed and rested when TOI met him at his Delhi residence on Friday. The party's breakthrough in Assam is not just because of incumbency against the Congress, but the result of a “positive vote“ for the BJP.The party's profile has risen in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Shah told.Excerpts:Naturally. The results are a cause for celebration and will enthuse the BJP and the NDA. There have been seven elections since the Modi sarkar assumed office. Of these, we won five, in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and now Assam. We increased our votes in Bihar. In Delhi, we lost, but saved our vote percentage.I didn't make predictions about the future. I said the mandate we got due to the efforts of PM Narendra Modi and party workers meant that all of us are duty bound to try to take the party to all parts of the country . We should work for this, I said.There is no divisive issue in our ideology.For a long time after Independence, the country remained under Congress administration. In Assam, the Congress was in office for 15 years. The people of Assam, and those of several other parts of our country, are in a position to compare BJP and Congress governments. It has been seen that BJP governments have been able to retain popular support for long periods of time...in Gujarat, MP and Chhattisgarh. We have won the popular vote repeatedly .Anti-incumbency alone won't do. The alternative has to be a positive choice, only then anti-incumbency will convert into votes. Two years of Modiji's government has strengthened people's faith in the BJP. People feel the nation is headed in the right direction and all will be treated as equal, will get equal opportunity and those who are lagging in the race for development will receive more attention from the government.We never see the voter as minority and majority . This is the job of the media.We consider a voter as a voter, a citizen of India.If you don't consider the exit of two governments as defeat... I would not even want to comment on this.All the states that went to polls are now “Congress-free“.Our work is to give a good administration on the basis of the mandate we got, to give an accountable government. To make sure the depressed classes and the poor are brought to the same level as the average in society . If this results in a win in elections, we can't prevent this. And politically ... when the reaction to our work manifests itself... we will consider our game plan. I think this election has proved that whoever goes with the Congress loses. Like in Tamil Nadu, the DMK's success ratio is 56%. The Congress success is 19%. The Congress pulled down the coalition.No need to begin predicting this now. This theory that all will be against us is in the imagination. In Assam, no one was with the Congress, everyone was with us.The AGP has twice formed government in Assam. It has taken up the problems of Assam. The AGP and the Bodo People's Front helped us.This was the first election after these issues were raised.This was also the first election after Westland! All issues affect elections.Also, without doubt, the entire nation believes and has reached the firm assessment that Modi sarkar isn't being allowed to function in Parliament. Because of this, lots of work related to development is stalled. After such a massive mandate... not to respect such a mandate is an insult to democracy . And people have taught a lesson to those who believe in being obstructionist.It is for those concerned to learn the right lesson.I haven't examined the results boothwise and won't comment on the basis of media reports.We have a mandate till 2019. Naturally , when you have a full mandate, you make plans. But leave aside 2019. We have already succeeded in taking the benefits of government schemes to people. Let's take two schemes. The PM turned the petroleum ministry , seen as a corporate ministry , into a people welfare ministry .The Jan Dhan accounts were used for direct transfer of subsidies (Pahal) and this stopped theft of subsidy worth Rs 14,000 crore. Then the PM made a moral appeal to the well-off to voluntarily give up subsidies on LPG.The plan is to supply clean fuel to 5 crore families. LPG will be given free of cost. Can you imagine saving the women of 5 crore families from the threat of TB, protecting their eyesight, their lungs... to create a healthy oxygen-rich environment for children to study ... to prevent stunting of mental growth.This will be seen on the ground.Till now, we equated employment with jobs. No one can provide full employment for 100 crore people. Self-employment is the solution. So, we have the Mudra bank. In the past year, Rs 1 lakh crore loans were disbursed. In the current fiscal, this will go to Rs 1.8 lakh crore. Some 5 crore youths will be employed. Just these two schemes will benefit 10 crore families directly . We have time-bound objectives to electrify 15,000 villages too.This has brought in transparency . Just think, delivering subsidy directly has saved Rs 14,000 crore... It was going to the black market which has no right to this subsidy .I don't think we should think too much about this. I am concentrating on making our organisation more effective.Let's look at Kerala and Assam. We are not looking at short-term goals. We are a cadre-based party . We have worked out a schedule of six programmes annually.Some 11 crore people have joined BJP due to Modiji's popularity and the party's image. We have to try and turn them into cadre. The objective is to consolidate the party's dominance and extend it from Parliament to panchayats across the country .When the scene of work changes, it serves the purpose, like Kerala, and then before that, the Northeast.I don't want to comment on their internal matters.This is Sarma's personal opinion.If you see the structure of that party, I feel this is the way it will be... It works on dynastic lines. That's how it works.I think we are working sincerely in the right direction. And the results can be seen. If we work correctly, this propaganda will not stick.This is not a secret. After becoming party president, I said we should aim high. We should work to carry our message far and wide and try to ensure that this government continues for a long time.Don't misinterpret the court. The court has not yet decided whether central rule was correctly imposed or not.Politically, it is for the party concerned to take care of its MLAs.No one came to us. We voted against the finance bill, so did these nine people. The government lost majority, see the numbers.The government has done very well handling the economy . Our GDP is better than China's. Retail and wholesale inflation are under control. All parameters are looking up. We are improving on the ease of doing business index.Our foreign reserves are at the highest.Anyone who tries to make this an issue should know that BJP has been tied to RSS since inception. I don't know how this is talked of. But it is a reality that I am an RSS swayamsewak.When we work well, why think of losing seats. But still there are seven states, Kerala, TN, Andhra, Telangana, Odisha, Bengal and Assam, our base and work is on the rise. I am confident that by the time 2019 comes we will convert our support into seats.