NEW DELHI, AUGUST 2: Bangaru Laxman, who will take over the BJP's presidentship from Kushabhau Thakre at the party's national council meeting at Nagpur on August 27, is a hardcore Swayamsevak. But Nagpur is first the land of Diksha Bhoomi (Dr B R Ambedkar's birth place) for him, and then the Sangh headquarters.The non-controversial leader who comes from the Madiga caste in Andhra Pradesh, claims he will chart an independent course in the party. Laxman - who will quit as Union minister of state for railways before taking over - spoke to The Indian Express at length. Excerpts from his first interview after being chosen to lead the party.Q: What will be your priorities?A: To continue and strengthen the present arrangement of coordination between the Government and the party organisation, to expand the base of the party both geographically and socially and to address power-related problems in the party like indiscipline. Besides, the party's performance in the Assembly elections in five states next year is a major area of concern.Q: The party leadership was apparently looking for a weak candidate for the top post. Who do you think played a role in your selection - the Prime Minister or the Home Minister?A: I am nobody's man. I am the party's man and will be guided only by the party's interests. No one should have illusions that he can influence me.Q: After an open confrontation between the party and the Government at Bangalore, (A.B.) Vajpayee had said that in matters of governance, his word had to be final. Do you mean to continue with that arrangement?A: Atalji has always been the leader of our party for the past 25 years whether (Lal Krishna) Advaniji or (Murli Manohar) Joshiji was president. His word, of course, has to be final.Q: You sound like an authoritarian but bound only by the Prime Minister's advice.A: Parties are never run by individuals. Some arrangement has to be there. I feel collective advice is a pre-requisite for smooth running of party organisation.Q: Will the BJP support the Government's decision to hold talks with Kashmir militants?A: Yes, why not? The Government has made it clear that talks will be held only within the framework of Constitution. Why should anybody have objection to that? Moreover, since militants intend to come around to us for talks, there is no harm in sitting around a table with them.Q: Of late, the RSS's relations with the Government have been strained. Being an RSS man, how will you work to improve the ties with Sangh?A: It's only a matter of opinion. We have family-type relations. There is no serious confrontation between the two. The Sangh Parivar will never split.Q: The Swadeshi Jagran Manch completely disagrees with the economic policies of the Government, even threatening to launch an agitation. Won't that worsen the situation?A: The SJM's views on economic affairs are known for a long time and BJP leaders have been attending the SJM's sessions. So where is the friction? If the SJM's views are practical on any particular subject, the Government will adopt them. If the RSS and the BJP have identical views, what's the use of running two organisations?Q: Do you approve of the BJP's policy of yielding ground to regional parties only to remain in power at the Centre?A: I don't think that is the party's policy. We tend to judge people's mood and go by it. The BJP being the largest party at the Centre, can't be unreasonable to the allies. It's a policy of adjustments and not of surrender or yielding ground.Q: In a caste-ridden state like UP, what will you do to improve the BJP's prospects in the next year's Assembly elections?A: We have taken note of the reverses suffered in the last parliamentary elections. We have also taken certain corrective steps like changing the chief minister. We wish to consolidate the existing base of the party among Dalits and backwards before going for expansion, by organising a series of meetings in the State especially in reserved constituencies. The party will also try to dispel any suspicion among the minorities about the BJP's image.Q: The BJP does not seem to have smooth relations with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal which too will go to polls next year.A: When two parties come together they may have some problems in seat arrangement. But the central leadership has been able to persuade state leaders to go along with the Trinamool. The people of the state too seem to ratify our alliance.
