Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis described BJP as a party of 'grounded' people. (IndiaTV)
Disapproving of charge against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being 'arrogant', Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the party will certainly introspect the loss in Assembly elections in three Hindi heartland states. Fadnavis said the BJP has remained 'grounded' despite coming to power in 2014 with a resounding majority.
Speaking to IndiaTV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma at Lokmat National Conclave in New Delhi, Fadnavis pointed out that the BJP got more votes than the Congress in the just concluded Rajasthan Assembly elections.
"The BJP is a grounded party and we are not arrogant because we have come from ground so there is no question of arrogance because we are not big people," Fadnavis said.
"If we look at the character of Rajasthan, every five years the government changes. The BJP got 38.8 per cent votes and the Congress got 39.2 per cent votes, so the Congress can't say people dismissed the BJP because they got just 0.5 per cent more votes," he said.
"It isn't arrogance it is self confidence. We had more votes than the Congress in MP. In Chhattisgarh, we lost and we are introspecting," he added.
Responding to a question over Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Fadnavis said his party will be opposition for the next five years.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma during Lokmat National Conclave. (IndiaTV)
"Rahul Gandhi has to be in opposition for five more years so it is important that he builds a strong opposition front," the Maharashtra CM said.
He also opposed the idea that the BJP was run by two people, saying 99 per cent parties are ruled by families in the country but in the BJP no one is a ruler.
On Ram Mandir, he said it is not a political issue for the BJP and the feeling that it should be built is shared by various Hindus.
"A lot of things are of conviction. It is our conviction that Ram Mandir should be made and we would not use it as an election issue," Fadnavis said.
Responding to a question by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Ram Mandir being used as a polarisation issue, Fadnavis said he does not believe that Ram Mandir is an election or polarisation issue.
"When the matter is discussed we give our opinion and when we have a debate on it we give answers that a temple should be built," he said.
On the country's agrarian crisis, he said if farmers were unhappy they wouldn't have got as many votes in Madhya Pradesh.
"Agrarian crisis has been continuing for years and it would need prolonged investment of years, as in four years it could not be dealt with. The promises the Congress has made before election to farmers, let us see how they fulfil it," he added.
On formation of a grand alliance, he said even if a coalition is made it wouldn't be able to survive.
"It doesnt matter if Mahagathbandhan is made or not, people have the trust of (PM Narendra) Modiji and even if it is made it would not be able to survive. People want decisive leadership which Modi ji can provide," he said.
WATCH: BJP not 'arrogant' party: Fadnavis tells Rajat Sharma
(With inputs from PTI)
