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Nandini Oza
Nandini Oza

INTERVIEW

Smriti Irani may lose

21-Bharatsinh-Solanki Bharatsinh Solanki | PTI

Interview/ Bharatsinh Solanki, Gujarat Congress president

Shankersinh Vaghela has quit the Congress, as have six of your MLAs. There is talk that more leaders are likely to follow suit. Didn’t you see it coming?

It happens. The BJP is a party that promotes defections and corruption. It is associated with gangsters. It is dismantling the pillars of democracy. It is part of the feudal and authoritarian RSS philosophy. More than 50 per cent of its MPs are criminals. Its party president was behind the bars.

Why has the Congress not been able to win assembly elections in the past 22 years?

We won in the civic polls in 2015. This is just the beginning.

Do you think victory is possible, when leaders are quitting the party?

The people give the verdict. Workers are enthusiastic. Leaders may come and go.

Won’t it be embarrassing if Ahmed Patel loses?

There is no chance of him losing. There are no ifs and buts. He will be the top choice. Amit Shah will win; his relationships may help Balwantsinh Rajput win. Smriti Irani may lose.

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Topics : #Congress | #Gujarat

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