We need to build the state brick by brick

What are the reasons for your victory over other parties?

Actually you came from nowhere to snatch victory People wanted change. People in Seemandhra were influenced by my track record as Chief Minister under whom Andhra Pradesh witnessed rapid development on many a front between 1995 and 2004. Teaming up with the BJP came in handy for the TDP since NDA's victory under Narendra Modi was deemed to be certain. Also, Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan, who floated his own Jana Sena Party, supported Modi and TDP and extensively campaigned for the TDP-BJP combine. We portrayed the true image of Jagan as the force that could only harm the interests of the new state and take it nowhere. ‘Modi wave' and 'Pawanism' served as good back up for the TDP and helped consolidate the youth voter base for the combine. These are some of the main reasons for our victory over other parties.

How will the BJP at the Centre help Seemandhra?

The Centre is the provider for any state. We will extract all support from the Centre to put development on fast-track mode in the new state.

You have been out of power for 10 years and are back victorious. What are the lessons you learnt in these 10 years?

Not to be over-confident. And one needs to always keep the welfare of the people first. Every decision one takes should be taken keeping all sections of people in view.

3000 km at the age of 63? Youngsters would not have succeeded.

Age is a state of mind and I want youngsters to believe so and get on to walk and believe in a healthy life style.

There were other reasons for your victory like your promises to BCs and Kapus?

We promised two Deputy CM posts in AP -- one each for Kapus and BCs and we will keep up the promises.

What is the message which goes to other political parties through this election results?

People were fed up with the false promises of the Congress. People were clear that the congress was into scams and corruption. They were planning to secure votes at the cost of people’s interest at the Centre. The people gave a fitting reply and the result was 50 Lok Sabha seats.

You are good at political marketing, You are also called as Chanakya of politics. Please comment.

Political marketing is as important as it is in any other domain. For most of 67 years poor Indians have been buying a fake product from the Congress in the hope of a better life. Unless a majority of them try out a new product, they won’t know the difference. In the last 10 years the Congress has been giving false hopes of growth. Speaking truth and giving a correct picture of the political situation is understood as political marketing, so be it.

Telanagana was a thorn but you stood second in Telangana.How?

In fact we could have done better. People in Telanagana know that the TDP was formed to protect the interests of the Telugu people. They are aware of the development work we took up. And the TDP was the reason for the surplus budget. People know that I was the person who brought Andhra Pradesh on the international map. People recollect the growth during my regime in Hyderabad. The analysis of my party people went wrong about Telanagana, else we would have done better.

Who all will form your team?

The team will have performers. A hardworking, committed and dedicated team of ministers. We need to start from the scratch. We need to build the state brick by brick. We need to assemble the state and grow.

There are whispers that you want the state secretariat in Seemandhra?

It is not about me wanting a state secretariat; it is the comfort of the people and of those officers who have to manage the state bureaucracy.

Modi is the new CEO in the saddle. Do you think he will be able to deliver and bring in changes in the deep rooted problems India is facing?

I have full confidence in the new government. With Modi’s tactical thinking and his ability to work, joining hands with all strata of people, will bring in success and the people will see a sea change in the next five years.

Water and revenue were going to be vexatious issues once bifurcation takes place, how will you address this problem?

There are going to be several teething problems for Seemandhra, not only water and revenue. We will sort out each one and we are positive that the people of Telangana and Seemandhra will work as brothers to develop the respective States and above all nobody will have any malice towards the other.

What is the role for you and the party at the Centre?

We joined hands with the BJP as we have trust in Modi as an able Prime Minister. It would be too premature to talk on the role at the Centre but would play a positive role to bring the nation on par with other developed nations. We will sail together. Between 1998 and 2004 the TDP had extended only outside support to the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. We severed the ties with the BJP in 2004 after the electoral drubbing in Andhra Pradesh.

Where would be the new capital and by when would you take a decision?

Already some work is done and people’s opinion is taken into consideration. We will take a decision shortly.

Will you join the NDA government at the Centre?

We will join hands and work towards nation-building.

You promised waiver of loans to farmers up to Rs 1 lakh. Were are the revenues to do so? The state is already in debt even before it is born?

All our promises are commitments which we will stand by. We are aware that it is a huge amount and if need be will seek support from the Centre. But this discussion is too premature.