Mansukh Mandaviya explains his strategy for the Lok Sabha debut and claims that Oppn is using EVMs as an Alibi for Loss. Exclusive

Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, is prepared to run in his first Lok Sabha election from Porbandar and is optimistic about winning by a “margin of more than five lakh votes.”

The minister told CNN-News18 that he had a long history with Porbandar and that walking around villages to meet people was his plan for winning votes.

“I’ve had a variety of roles and portfolios inside this organization. I am a seasoned Karyakarta, having held meetings with each “mandal” and overseeing Saurashtra. I also adhere to Gandhian ideology, and I completed a 150-kilometer padyatra to preserve it,” he said.

When asked whether he was prepared to challenge the elections, Mandaviya said that he has always followed the party’s rules. “After becoming an MLA, I was assigned responsibilities inside the company. I went to the Rajya Sabha and carried out my responsibilities after the party determined that I should serve two terms as a member. I was assigned a number of organizational duties, which I carried out correctly. I’ve gotten off to a quick start since the party has now decided that I should run for office. With a margin of at least five lakh votes, I’m trying to win from Porbandar,” he said.

The minister said it was a deliberate choice, choosing low-key campaigning over large-scale gatherings for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

I’ve made the decision to participate in as many padyatras as I can. I visit four to five villages a day, disembark at the entrance, and stroll the whole hamlet in search of the elders’ blessings. After that, I visit the nearby temple to ask for blessings. I often address the public and inform them about the Ayushman Bharat, Kisan Samman Nidhi, and Awas Yojana programs of the Modi administration. I give a speech to a small group of people in the village on how they might profit from the work that the Modi government is doing. Everyone, including the members of the organizing team, finds the campaign simpler when it is kept straightforward, the speaker stated.

“I want to fight the polls with the least amount of expenses so that we can concentrate most on delivery and connect,” Mandaviya said. I’ll demonstrate to others how useful this paradigm may be.

The opposition’s claim that the BJP would only win 150–180 seats was also criticized by the minister. Since they have no connections to individuals and no goal, their role is to just say anything. I have personally seen the kind of connection that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has with the people. The main difference between us and the opponent will be our ability to connect on the ground. And for that reason, we are certain that in the next elections, the BJP will get 370+ points and the NDA, 400+.

Additionally, he claimed that the opposition’s claims that democracy and the Constitution are in jeopardy were unfounded. “We are not a party that has imposed emergency measures or killed democracy. As a leader, Modi-ji has always pushed to protect the Constitution’s tenets. The whole nation and the entire globe can see that he is bolstering democracy. The foundation for the creation of a New India is the democratic force that is rising from India.

When asked whether there should be no action taken against corrupt individuals, Mandaviya questioned why federal agencies such as the CBI and ED target the opposition. “What is causing them fear? You have nothing to be afraid of if you have done nothing wrong. However, if you have broken the law, it will ultimately come after you.

“The agencies in every government do their job, and their job is to act against the corrupt,” he said. Why should one doubt the reason or timing for it? The agencies are only carrying out their duties.

In addition, Mandaviya attacked the opposition over the EVM controversy, claiming that they were prone to assigning blame for their own ineptitude on everyone except themselves.

“Electoral machines (EVMs) are fine when the opposition wins in Karnataka or other states. If not, they will only attribute the fault to EVMs. The opposition is searching for an alibi since they have realized how badly they are losing the election. The Election Commission has invited these individuals many times and requested a demonstration or at the very least an explanation of how they believe that EVMs may be compromised. Thus yet, no one has taken any action. They begin blaming EVMs when they see they are about to lose. Where they win, they remain mute, and where they lose, they blame electronic voting machines. How will people tolerate such a mindset?

Referred to as a “visionary leader,” the health minister echoed the prime minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat. “PM Modi has a great capacity to be farsighted and views things from a bigger perspective. As an example, let me to share with you that, even twenty-five years ago, when I was an MLA, Prime Minister Modi asked that we all become active on social media. He had anticipated that social media will grow to be a very significant instrument in the future. We understand what he meant now. Similar to this, he focused on important groups including the impoverished, farmers, and young people when he spoke about Viksit Bharat. This will serve as a strong foundation for a developed India in 2047, the speaker said.

“After being on the ground and campaigning extensively, I can say with enough confidence that I will win with a margin of over five lakh votes, and BJP will score 370+, NDA will score 400+, and we will have a third term led by PM Modi,” Mandaviya said.