'Very Soon You Will See a Completely New Trend in UP Politics'

Sunil Bansal, Amit Shah’s Man Friday, and the back-room strategist widely credited with BJP’s stunning victory in UP speaks to News18’s Sumit Pande immediately after it became clear that the party is sweeping the state. Excerpts:

What lessons did you learn if any from BJP’s drubbing in Bihar polls?

I was in Bihar for only 10 days. I had to cut short my trip since I got afflicted with typhoid midway through the elections. In UP we organised our booth teams well in advance. More than 80 percent booths had a presiding worker helped by a team.

What about ticket distribution, there were a few criticisms earlier?

We ensured representation to all communities. In every district ticket distribution was such that all dominant social groups found representation.

In the last phase you deployed all your resources in Varanasi…

We were very clear about our strategy. I called all Vidhan Sabha in-charges as soon as the campaigning ended on 6th. We identified each booth where we had the potential of increasing polling. And then ensured all these booths polled hundred votes more than the last time for us.

What were the organisational changes you made after taking charge of UP?

When I came here I realised that only 30 percent of the programmes charted by the party in Lucknow were being translated into action. In one year this percentage went up to 80. Before the election we had the capacity to hold booth level functions on a short notice of 24 hours.

So, now who would be the CM?

That is something the Parliamentary Board of the party will decide. Our aim here will be to develop the state. Fifteen years ago every district in UP had a patent industry. Meerut was known for sports, Firozabad for glasswork, Aligarh for locks and Bhadohi for carpets. Because of bad law and order conditions prevailing in the state 80 lakh people have migrated out of the state. Developing UP will be our first priority.

So you see it as a victory of development politics?

Yes and very soon you will see a completely new trend in state politics. BJP is now a party of the poor and also that of the rural India.