Common platform needed to resolve issues within NDA: JD(U)'s K C Tyagi

Janata Dal (United) National General Secretary K C Tyagi spoke to DH’s Shemin Joy on the latest round of bypolls, regional parties’ performance and their future

Relevance of regional parties and their electoral performances are always under scrutiny. JD(U) National General Secretary KC Tyagi spoke to DH's Shemin Joy on the latest round of bypolls, regional parties' performance and their future.

What is your reading about the latest round of bypolls? What is the message for regional parties from the results?

You have to understand that this is not a verdict against the BJP-led NDA government. In Haryana, the farmers' movement is very strong and late Devi Lal's family represents farmers and their interests. That is why Abhay Chautala of INLD could win the seat though it is a challenge to the Jat leadership of the Congress as well as the JJP led by Dushyant Chautala, who had split from the INLD. BJP also could not perform very well there. In the case of Himachal Pradesh, BJP lost very badly. BJP's Vasundhare Raje is unhappy with her party and it had an impact on its performance in Rajasthan leading to the victory of Congress. She is the most popular leader of Rajasthan and the party needs to consider that. Madhya Pradesh is the strongest hold of BJP. In Bihar, the unity of NDA and the leadership of Nitish Kumar are the main reasons for the Bypoll victories. These were two crucial seats where our party won. For the BJP and NDA, Assam and the north-east states are the strongest at present. Karnataka sees an equal fight between the BJP and the Congress but the loss in Hangal is a wake up call. BJP must take it as a challenge. There is no potential threat to the NDA at the Centre but in states, the BJP needs to have strong and able leadership.

What is your analysis of the Bihar bypoll results?

The leadership of Nitish Kumar is indispensable for the NDA. Women and Most Backward Castes overwhelmingly support Nitish. The unity of Bihar NDA is another factor. The biggest advantage for the NDA in the near future is the possible split between the RJD and the Congress. The Left will then have to take a position. At the national level, the Left, mainly the CPI(M) and the CPI, considers the Congress as the main pole in the fight against the BJP. RJD is a regional party and if the Left decides to side with the Congress, it will create trouble for the RJD.

Do you think there will be a division in the Grand Alliance?

Yes, there will be. RJD and Congress could go different ways.

Last Bihar Assembly elections, the JD(U) came second to the BJP in Bihar NDA. Do you subscribe to the thinking that the BJP's growth is detrimental to the regional parties?

We lost seats because of Ram Vilas Paswan's son Chirag (the then chief of undivided LJP). He always used to claim that he was NDA, he was 'Hanuman' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It created confusion among voters. The candidates the LJP fielded cut JD(U)'s votes in several seats. Now, he is no threat for JD(U). He has been thoroughly exposed in Bihar. Tarapur seat, which went to bypolls, was part of Jamui Lok Sabha constituency which Chirag represents. There his candidate got only 5,364 votes (3.16%) and forfeited deposit. This is an indication for the future that Chirag's victory next time would not be easy.

The trend which we have seen is that BJP wins at the Centre but not in states. Why this contradiction?

This is sub-nationalism in play. They are in search of identity. In Tamil Nadu, the fight is between DMK and AIADMK. In Kerala, it is the Left. In West Bengal, there was Jyoti Basu for a long time, now it is Mamata Banerjee. In Maharashtra, we had Bal Thackeray and Sharad Pawar is still there. In sub-nationalism, their own hero is being made. At the all-India level, the BJP has Modi but when it comes to state level, people prefer regional leaders. The question for the BJP is that will it project their own regional leaders there. That is not happening now. It is significant that the BJP won the Telangana bypolls but in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, it is YSR Congress.

There is a demand for a coordination committee in the NDA. BJP allies like Shiv Sena and Akali Dal have left the NDA. Is BJP not accommodating its allies?

Sometimes, you have seen that the NDA allies now speak in separate tones. This did not happen during the A B Vajpayee-era. There was a Common Minimum Programme then and nobody would go beyond that. At present, we do not have a CMP. BJP raises its core issues and we also raise ours. The revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir was not discussed in the NDA. We opposed in Parliament and walked out. In the triple talaq issue, we said there was a need for a dialogue with stakeholders. There is a need for population control but it cannot be achieved through law and what is needed is awareness programmes. We said there should be incentives for those who stick to the two-children norm. On such questions, JD(U) differs with the BJP. We are not asked about these. There are no discussions. So, we have been saying that there should be some platform where the issues are resolved within the NDA. It should not come into public domain. Frankly speaking, there is no CMP and there is no committee.

How important are the elections to five states in 2022 for the regional parties?

In Punjab, the BJP is not in a good position. It had separated with Akali Dal. In Uttar Pradesh, it's position is better but it will have to face the farmer's movement. They will have to work hard to assuage the farmers otherwise it will be trouble. I come from western Uttar Pradesh and I can safely say that the BJP can lose a large number of seats in the region. That is why we are for a reconciliation with the farmers. There is also a need to take the most backward castes along with us. We have seen in the panchayat polls that the BJP lost several seats. The BJP has tried to control the damage in Uttarakhand but only the future will tell how much it was able to do so. In Goa, it seems BJP is comfortable. Manipur is likely to have a hung Assembly as all parties are fighting alone.

In UP, your party has said it will fight elections. Will you be in alliance with the BJP?

We hope there will be an alliance. If the BJP does not accommodate us in UP, we will definitely fight the elections alone.

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