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The Rediff Election Interview/ Shivraj Patil

'It is wrong to say Pawar is all that powerful in Maharashtra'

Shivraj Patil has represented Latur for the last 20 years.

Interestingly, in 1996, when there was a pro-saffron wave in Maharashtra, he retained his seat by 75,000 votes. But last year, when the Congress put in a good showing all across the state, he won by a narrow margin of 3000-odd votes.

This time, there is more trouble in store for him, as the Nationalist Congress Party candidate, Pasha Patel, is all set to cut into his vote.

In an interview to Syed Firdaus Ashraf, however, Patil says he does not consider the NCP a threat because Pawar has no hold in his area.

The NCP too is in the fray in this election. So, how does it affect your chances?

We are not afraid of the NCP candidate. I think people will vote for the Congress party and I am sure you will see that after the results come out.

But don't you consider Pawar to be a force in Maharashtra?

He has some hold over Maharashtra but not in all the areas. And don't forget that the Congress party lost the assembly elections for the first time under his leadership. So, it is wrong to say Pawar is all that powerful in Maharashtra.

But your victory margin was low in the last elections. In fact, that happened in spite of the fact that there was anti BJP-Sena vote in the state. In fact, Pasha Patel, the Shetkari Sanghatana candidate bagged 50,000 votes last time. So, don't you think that will hamper your chances?

I think it was a trick played by my opponent. He has put up the candidate not to get him elected but to see that I am defeated. I believe voters will not fall into this trap but vote for the Congress party.

Do you think there is a conspiracy against you?

I think this is a political trick to defeat me.

What went wrong in the last elections?

Maybe I made some mistakes or maybe money power played some role in reducing my margin.

Do you agree with the BJP's claim that voters will punish the Congress party because it was responsible for bringing down the government?

No, I don't think so. The voters are very mature and they do realize that the government fell because of the quarrels within the BJP coalition. And, it is the job of the opposition party to replace the government.

So, in your opinion, what do the voters think?

The voters think history has been proved time and again, that it is only the Congress party which can provide a stable government.

The BJP has never got a majority of its own ....

They have not got a majority because they never have won the confidence of people all over India.

Many Congress MLAs and MPs from Maharashtra have joined Pawar. Don't you think it will be a setback to the Congress party?

I am repeating again, that people don't like this kind of factionalism in politics and therefore they will never support Pawar's cause or his party.

What is Pawar's future after the elections?

It is better you ask him that ( smiles).

The MaMuLi (Marwari, Muslim and Lingayat) factor played a crucial role in the last parliamentary elections. Do you think you will lose Muslim vote because the NCP has fielded a Muslim?

Are you here to get spicy news or get some substantial news? These things are being rumoured by certain section of people.

What issues are you highlighting in your constituency?

That's a good question. Efficient government, stable government, the economy, foreign policy and defence policy.

But Pawar and the BJP are highlighting Sonia's foreign origin in the elections?

Small-minded people do not have any solution to the problems faced by the people. So, they raise these kinds of questions which are not relevant to voters. And, moreover, people do not bother about such issues. Such issues are raised by people who do not understand India.

How many seats you expect to win in the LS and Vidhan Sabha from Maharashtra?

I am not going to predict numbers. But, I think the trend is very good and in the assembly election too it is very promising for our party.

Your opponents complain that you do not visit your constituency very often?

They have nothing to say so they are making these allegations. If I had not attended Parliament then they would have said I am not attending Parliament but I am always present in my constituency.

The Rediff Election Interviews

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