Exclusive: There is no BJP left, says Supriya Sule

NCP MP Supriya Sule in conversation with Noman Siddiqui.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule in an exclusive interview with Mid-Day has expressed displeasure over how the political landscape in the country has altered or changed over the recent years.

She also slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said there is no BJP left. The BJP is loaded with NCP and Congress people, Sule said.

The political landscape:

When asked if she thinks that the Indian political landscape has been altered or changed since the time she stepped into politics, Supriya Sule said, "I think politics has become personal. It wasn't so personal before. I see a lot of bitterness sometimes, which is uncalled for. Because I personally always try to keep my culture in mind, which is a traditional Maharashtrian culture, where my opponent is not my enemy. We just have ideological differences. We are not enemies. So I think that's a big change."

Adding further she said, "I see a lot of bitter comments on social media. These are used effectively to corner people. I don't read comments as a principle. Unless I'm looking for feedback, I see no reason, and there are some bitter souls who want to go for it. It's their choice, because I don't troll anybody."

Sule also said that she felt disappointed. "Because I like to take my job very professionally. So I feel we don't really need so much bitterness around us. It bothers me because I feel that it makes it personal. It's not about an individual. It's about a family. It's about the children in that family. Let's not be so insensitive. We're here to make a policy not to criticise each other and slander each other," she added.

No BJP left:

Supriya Sule also attacked the BJP and said that there is no BJP left as it is fully loaded with Congress and NCP people. "There is no BJP. It's loaded with NCP and Congress. So they should eventually call themselves Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and in the bracket, BJP. Because they are no longer the BJP. Look at the number of people in the position of decision-making, who are so-called outsiders who are not the original BJP," she said.

"The original BJP workers, who worked hard, are completely neglected. If you look at the BJP today, it's Ex-NCP and Congress. So there's really very little difference between them and us. Maybe we are better off than them right now," Sule added.

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Her remarks come days after Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule recently said that many bigwigs of the NCP and Congress will join the BJP.

BMC elections:

When asked about NCP's strategy for upcoming BMC elections, Supriya Sule said, "We will definitely contest everywhere in Maharashtra including Mumbai, the MVA will have a different strategy in place. It will depend on whose strength is where and how effective we have done. It is not only about strength, you have to go beyond what we have delivered and what kind of work people have done. So I think we let work speak for itself. Everything is not about breaking and putting agencies behind people, when are we going to serve our people, this job is not about just breaking and showing muscle. This is about serving people and making their lives better. I think we have all stopped talking about the economy, we should stop talking about accountability because we are trapped in all these other things."

Opposition unity for 2024 Lok Sabha polls:

Talking about united Opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Supriya Sule, "Don't you think there has to be an Opposition in any country? This is a democracy. I think it's the most natural thing for there to be Opposition anywhere in the world. I mean, even if I were in power, I would encourage dissent. Because it's a democracy. We live by the constitution of this country or any country for that matter. I mean, I'm not saying this because we are in the opposition. Even if we were in power, my view still stands the same. We have to have a robust opposition, which keeps the country in check."

Also Read: No respect for women: NCP's Supriya Sule on Maharashtra cabinet expansion

I enjoy being in Delhi:

When asked if she participates in regional politics more and she is in the race for woman Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Supriya Sule said, "I contest Lok Sabha. It is evident that I am going to Delhi. I enjoy being in Delhi. My performance speaks for itself. I really enjoy policy-making in Delhi."

She added, "Maharashtra needs an effective, modern, forward-thinking, hard-working, empathetic leader. I don't look at it as if it could be a man, or a woman. It could be anybody. So why are we trapping it only by selfish agendas of personal aspirations? I think it's a much larger role. You really need somebody to put it right where Maharashtra belongs point number one."