With less than six months to the Lok Sabha elections due in 2019, veteran politician Yashwant Sinha is confident that Narendra Modi will not have a second term as prime minister. The former BJP leader and union minister, who is one of the harshest critics of the present BJP government and PM Modi, pins his hopes on the responses he receives from various sections of people all over the country.
Sinha, who minces no words when criticising Modi and his economic policies, was in Kochi to speak at 'Hot Seat', an interactive session organised by the Kerala chapter of the All-India Professionals' Congress. During the session, he termed the 2016 demonetisation as a result of the greed of Modi government. He also said that all democratic institutions and conventions are under threat from the Modi government, with the latest one being the Reserve Bank of India.
Onmanorama caught up with him for a brief chat after the event. In this excerpts of an exclusive interview, Sinha explains why Modi might not win a second term, and touches on issues such as opposition unity and the ongoing Sabarimala row in Kerala.
Q. During the 'Hot Seat' interaction, you said a new government will come to power in a few months and it will correct the wrong steps taken by Modi government. What makes you so confident?
A. I'm confident because I travel all over the country and I see the responses of people in villages. People want to listen to the truth about this government. If you make a true statement about the government, that makes the people happy. It comes from the disappointment of the people. I see there is large-scale disappointment among various sections. So they would not vote for this government again.
Q. But the opposition still seems to be confused as to how to move forward.
A. No. They are not confused. It's also a part of the propaganda by the ruling party that the opposition is clueless. The opposition will come together. I'm sure there will be a one-on-one contest against the BJP. In 2014, the BJP won only 31 per cent votes. Sixty-nine per cent was against them. This time their vote share will go down further. So even if 50 per cent come together, this government won't have a chance.
Q. Is a grand alliance the only way to defeat BJP?
A. No. It's not necessary. The alliance could be at state-level also. For instance, here in Kerala you have a (CPI(M)-led) Left Front and (Congress-led) Democratic Front. Both of them are against the BJP. But what is the point in they joining a grand alliance. They should fight the elections here and see that the BJP does not win.
Q. Do you think that the Congress should have more strength in Parliament?
A. They should perform the duty of the main opposition party in Parliament, especially in the Lok Sabha. They are doing it in the Rajya Sabha, but they are not able to do it in the Lower House.
Q. Is it because of the lesser number of seats they have in the Lok Sabha?
A.It could be.
Q. Should the Congress have a major role in the formation of next government?
A. Yeah. They should have a role, whether major or not.
Q. You have been speaking extensively against demonetisation. Do you expect PM Modi to come up with more such shocking measures now?
A. No, because the time left is very less. They should not do anything.
Q. The BJP is aggressively trying to take advantage of the ongoing crisis over the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. Do you think they will succeed?
A. It's most unfortunate that the BJP, which is the ruling party at the Centre, is behaving like this in Kerala against an order passed by the Supreme Court. What will happen to the rule of law if the ruling party itself starts to oppose a Supreme Court order. Today they are doing it here and tomorrow they will do it in Ayodhya. The court said it would hear the matter (on Ayodhya dispute) in January, and they have already started protesting. What does that show? On the one hand they show scant respect for institutions. Secondly it shows, unless the Supreme Court passes orders which are favourable to the BJP, they would protest.
Q. Will Modi come to power in 2019 again?
A. No. I hope he will not. There is no chance. A second term for Modi will be much more dangerous than the first term.
Q. How many seats will the NDA end up winning next time?
A. I can't make such predictions at this point of time.
Q. Will you contest the polls in 2019?
A. No, I have already decided not to.
