‘Those flaying me for inexperience are detractors, not critics… PM Modi has reposed faith in me’: Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma was the BJP’s surprise pick for the state’s top post last year. Months after assuming office, his first challenge was leading the BJP in a state which the party had swept in the past two Lok Sabha elections.

In a freewheeling conversation with The Indian Express, Sharma talks about his critics, his role in the Lok Sabha election campaign and the Modi factor among other things.

I am sure that the BJP has done very well in the Lok Sabha elections, the results of which will be seen on June 4. The political dynamics are always evolving. While exit polls may show fluctuations, our focus remains on delivering for the people. We are committed to addressing the concerns of the electorate and regaining their trust through our actions and policies.

The BJP is a karyakarta-based party and our strategy was welfare of the state with a nation-first approach. Our campaign slogan was ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’. It focuses on highlighting our achievements, addressing local issues, and engaging with the community. I personally conducted nearly 200 small and big meetings, rallies, roadshows, and public meetings across the state.

The major challenge is to bring Rajasthan to normal from the undue stress that the previous Congress government has put it into. For instance, the kind of the MoUs for electricity supply and trade the previous government had done were miserable. The state has to provide 1.67 lakh units to the grid during peak summer months of May, June and July, when our demand surges to the highest. We cannot dishonour it because as a state of India we have to honour the commitments of the earlier governments, but this shows the insensitivity of the previous Congress government.

I am not even talking