Bhupinder Singh with chief minister Naveen Patnaik after he joined the BJD prior to recently held polls

Hot seat - Bhupinder Singh,

senior BJD leader

You are in politics for the last four decades. You were the Opposition leader and a Congress stalwart. But, you left the party and joined the BJD at the last minute. This time, you are out of the electoral battle. How do you feel sitting at home when the elections are going on?

(Pause) I feel relaxed. But hundreds of my supporters who are with me have a definite feeling that I should have contested the polls. As I decided not to jump into the electoral battle, they are a bit sad at the moment.

Is it true that you opted out of contesting the election as the BJD denied you a ticket at the last moment?

This is utter nonsense. A section of media has fabricated this story to tarnish my image. The fact is that the BJD had asked me to contest from either the Narla Assembly seat or the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat. The party wanted me to contest as the leaders are aware that I have a solid support base in Kalahandi and Nuapada districts. I am in the field for the last 40 years and am associated with the problems of the area. But I decided not to contest as it will send a message that I am hankering after power and position. Let me make it clear that I would have not entered politics, had I not been born in Kalahandi (the backward region of the state). I came to politics to represent the voices that are not heard in the corridors of power.

l Is it not true that the BJD betrayed you by not offering even a ticket to your son Daljeet to contest recently concluded Assembly elections?

No. Daljit was also offered a ticket by the party to contest the polls from Narla. But he was not interested in taking a plunge into politics at this time.

Your baritone voice would no more be heard this time in the state Assembly. Where are you heading now? Will your political career come to an abrupt end?

Life does not end here.... We have to move forward leaving the past behind. I am in politics since my student-days. My family members do endorse my decision not to contest the election. For me, self-respect and self-dignity are important.

Politics does not mean that you will always have to fight elections. My endeavour has always been to work for the development of the state as well as of the Kalahandi and Nuapada districts. I was successful in this direction to a great extent. Of course, I agree, in a democratic set up, one needs a platform to raise issues.

But where you will get the platform now?

I am in BJD. Is it not a big platform? Naveen babu is well aware about my commitment and dedication to work for the uplift of common man.

There is a wide public perception that after being denied a ticket, you are now eyeing for a Rajya Sabha seat?

It is not what you are interested in... It is always for the party to take a decision. But whatever responsibility is entrusted to me, I will certainly discharge it. Besides, I have always tried to raise the voice of those who have no one to take up their causes.

As the Opposition leader in the state Assembly, only a few months back, you were raising fingers at Naveen on each and every issue. You had equated him with Adolf Hitler. Now that you have joined his party, how do you feel?

I have never passed such remarks against him. As a leader of the Opposition, what I used to do was correct. I had no personal animosity against Naveen babu even at that time. I had never criticised him nor have I stooped low in my criticism. As the Opposition leader, my attempt was to rectify the mistakes done by the government. I always made constructive suggestions and remarks. My motto, as the leader of Opposition, was that the government machinery should function in a transparent manner. I always tried to ensure that the government should rise to the occasion (to meet the challenges). My views and statements should be seen in that context. History will certainly take note of my role as the leader of Opposition.

l You have already been in the ruling party for the last two months. Are you comfortable with the BJD?

Of course...I am quite comfortable in the party. My joining the BJD was hailed by all sections of the society. Being a player (sportsman), I always need a good team in which I can play and perform better. Here, the BJD is a good team and Naveen babu is its captain.

The entire work in BJD goes on in a transparent manner. The BJD leaders are comfortable with me as they know me for years. The party has included me as a star campaigner. I campaigned at various places in the state.

The election has already been over. Can you tell from your experience how many seats the BJD is likely to bag in the coming elections?

If you make an honest analysis, you will come to the conclusion that the BJD will certainly fare better than the 2009 general elections. Since the panchayat polls last year, the BJD had started its groundwork in a well-coordinated and organised manner. There is a clear public opinion in favour of Naveen Patnaik and the party. It will certainly secure more seats this time compared to 2009. (In 2009, the BJD had won 103 Assembly seats alone).

One section strongly feels that there is a wave in favour of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Odisha. Do you think, the BJP will gain in the state?

There is no Modi wave. It’s a media hype. BJP will never be a gainer in Odisha even if it gets some votes here. If people of Gujarat voted for Modi because of his reported all round achievement, why shouldn’t people of Odisha extend overwhelming support to Naveen babu for similar reasons? Naveen babu has done a lot of development work for the state.

Who will be the loser in this election?

It’s none other than the Congress. It had no election plan. My suggestion to the Congress leadership to constitute a team for 2014 elections was ignored. It was not prepared for the elections. It will be completely routed in Odisha as the party is being managed by a group of people with selfish interests and motives. The BJD will emerge stronger.

You must be aware that after you severed your decades long ties with the Congress and joined the BJD, the Congress worker have spread all kind of stories and theories against you. How do you respond to it?

A coterie is running the Congress. Those people who had spread canards about me never subscribed to the Congress’s ideology. If you go deep into the detail, you will certainly find that the people who spread canards against me are those who had earlier betrayed their leaders. There is no reason to clarify and explain every thing. The people are aware of the truth.