Lost to internal sabotage and false AAP campaign: Sheila Dikshit

CL Manoj, ET Bureau Feb 27, 2014, 04.00AM IST
(AAP made unrealistic promises…)

Sheila Dikshit, who was chief minister of Delhi for 15 years, says her successor Arvind Kejriwal gave up the hot seat in less than 50 days mainly because of his unrealistic promises. "The more he stayed in office, the more he and the AAP government would have been exposed," she told ET's CL Manoj in an interview. Dikshit "internal sabotage" and "AAP's dishonest campaign" for her defeat. She also speaks about Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Excerpts:

As a CM who governed for 15 consecutive years, how do you look at your successor Arvind Kejriwal quitting in less than 50 days?

Kejriwal, one feels, was not keen to continue beyond that period for obvious reasons. AAP made unrealistic promises during election campaign. The more he stayed in office, the more he and AAP government would have been exposed. So he opted for the exit route. It is his right to choose the kind of politics he wants to do. As somebody who was the chief minister of Delhi, I know it is an extremely complex city to govern.

That task becomes complex if somebody promises everybody will be given free/hugely subsidised, electricity and water. Mind you, Delhi is deficit on both power and water and outside supplies don't come free. The government has to find resources to pay for imported power and water. Delhi is one of the high per capita income cities, yet it's among states with the cheapest power rates. Our government too had subsidised power rates to certain lower-income groups up to certain units. It may be fine for somebody to promise the moon . But for running the administration, the government has to find the money, resources, to account for the expenditure and subsidy. I am not surprised Kejriwal quit soon.
What do you have to say about charges against you made by the Aam Aadmi Party government?

The Commonwealth Games added to national pride. The Games was not organised by the Delhi government alone. Decisions were taken collectively along with various Union ministries, CPWD, etc. The Delhi government place facts before CAG and CBI. There were no further queries to us from these agencies or CVC because they were satisfied with our answers.

The decision to legalise some unauthorised colonies was taken by the government as a policy decision by following due process. Most colonies, barring a few facing litigation, have already been authorised. It is not that power distribution companies are not audited. Discoms are routinely audited by firms cleared by CAG. If anybody wants fresh auditing, it can be done if CAG allows it. It could also take time. There is nothing that should worry me or my former government. I was also not surprised by AAP targeting me.

Why is that?

Since I was CM for 15 years, I had also become the public face of Delhi Congress and our government. So those who wanted to target my party and government tried to malign me.

Did you anticipate the huge defeat that your government suffered?

I was taken aback by the way we lost the elections, including my own seat. I had great faith in the productive hard work our government had put in during 15 years that has qualitatively improved the lives of all section of people in Delhi. All sections could also feel the way our government served them; youth got the best of educational institutions; poor got many welfareschemes; women, especially girls, got the most caring schemes, including special scholarships, sanitary kits, etc. I am surprised we still lost. I never thought people of Delhi would be carried away by dishonest campaign of AAP!

Some say your own party did not fight along with you?

Yes! There was also internal sabotage. Many senior Congress leaders and those who could not get tickets actively worked to sabotage our campaign. I did not realise it initially as I was busy leading the campaign. But later I realised I was left alone. That way, our government lost due to both dishonest AAP campaign and internal sabotage.

What about the high command?

I have no complaints about the high command. I treasure my family's fourgeneration-old relation with the Gandhi family. Both Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi backed me fully.

What did you tell Sonia Gandhi after the defeat?

I told Soniaji, "Sorry, I have disappointed you this time." And she said may be the general atmosphere of price rise and corruption affected our chances. Did these factors hit your chances? Price rise was an issue. Our government tried to increase supply of onions. I know an important opposition party hoarded onions to sabotage our chances.

Did these factors hit your chances?

Price rise was an issue. Our government tried to increase supply of onions. I know an important opposition party hoarded onions to sabotage our chances. How else can you explain the price crash from Rs 50 to Rs 15 immediately after voting? As far as corruption is concerned, it is an issue, but not so much as BJP is trying to make it out to be. And why has BJP joined hands with Yeddyurappa or why are there ministers with cases in Modi's cabinet?

What do you think of Modi?

When I see Modi, I only think one line" "I, me and myself."

And Rahul Gandhi?

Rahul is a young man with his own new ideas and approach to things. That is the way the new generation leaders should be. Why should our rivals, especially BJP, try to criticise him so much? I am sure he has the capacity to lead our party in the elections.