PM, party found me worthy for this duty’

Interview Exclusive

 Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Gulab Chand Kataria, 78, has been given responsibility of the Governor of Assam on which he said he would “fulfill it honestly.” Talking to Yogesh Sharma, Political Editor of First India, Kataria shared his vision...

 You have long experience and Sundar Singh Bhandari took into politics by holding your finger. What you have to say about your status now?

I consider myself a worker. I come from an organisation, RSS, which has taught us to work for the nation. Sangh handed me over to Bhandari ji and politics after the emergency. I have has never hankered after any position and it is only in the BJP that a simple worker can rise to top posts. They have given me responsibility and I will try to fulfill it.

PM Narendra Modi and senior people of my party consider me worthy of doing that work. With god and party leaders’ blessings, I will definitely try to live up to their expectations.

 You have maintain honesty and integrity in such a long career. How this happened?

These are teachings of Sangh. I had many shortcomings in life but I worked with great Sangh pracharaks and learned a lot. I learned how to live and work in minimum resources. I learned that lack of resources is a challenge and a person can learn from it. The pracharaks leave their families to work for the nation. If they do so much, we can also do some work for the nation.

 You steered Mewar politics – whether Sangh or the BJP. Now, who will head Mewar politics?

There such a piety in the land of Mewar that whosoever is given the responsibility, with the blessings of the Eklingji, the person works for the pride of Mewar. In our party, there are so many workers and anyone would fulfill the responsibility.

 CAA and some other volatile issues are there in Assam. But Marwari and Rajasthanis have great influence there?

I have been visiting Marwaris and even interior villages there earlier also. I will fulfill the responsibility of maintaining and increasing the pride of Rajasthanis there and of the land of Assam on priority.

 What will you con- vey to 1st time MLAs as you have been a pathshala for them?

The message is that we are indebted to the voters who send us to the Assembly. We have to pay back the debt while living our political career for the sake of our area, pride of the Vidhan Sabha and of the democracy. Rest of the help God provides.

 Governor is a constitutional post. It is said that politics comes to an end after becoming Governor. How do you perceive it?

I will certainly play my role as per the constitutional stature of the Governor post. I will not make my own individual line by leaving the line of constitutional duty.

I will fulfill the responsibility of maintaining and increasing the pride of Rajasthanis and of the land of Assam on priority. I will not make my own individual line.

—Gulab Chand Kataria

About Guv Kataria

Kataria, 78, who was an eight-time MLA and a former minister, belongs to Udaipur and has influence in Mewar region, said that he has never hankered after any position and it is only in the BJP that a simple worker can

Who will be new LoP? Names of Raje, Rathore doing rounds

Yogesh Sharma rise to top posts. He said he was not aware of his appointment till the media and party leaders started calling him in the morning.

Gulab Chand Kataria is married to Anita Kataria, the couple has 5 daughters. He was home minister also.

‘KATARIA AS ASSAM GUV IS HONOUR FOR STATE’

Talking about Gulab Chand Kataria on being elected as Assam Governor Rajasthan BJP state in-charge and national general secretary Arun Singh said, “Kataria’s nomination as Assam governor is an honour for Rajasthan. Gulab Chand Kataria, who worked in the politics of Rajasthan for 50 decades, has worked to advance the BJP organization.” Responding to the question of who will be the next Leader of the Opposition in Rajasthan, he said that “The decision will be taken by the BJP Parliamentary Board and everyone will abide by the decision taken.”

Jaipur: With the appointment of Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria as the Governor of Assam, the hunt for his successor has started. The names of former CM Vasundhara Raje and Deputy LoP Rajendra Rathore are being considered strongly. Raje has been the Leader of Opposition in the past as well and a large section among the MLAs has been considering her as their leader. Rathore says that the decision will be taken by the leadership. Other leaders also said that the decision has to be taken by the high command. The central leadership of BJP has started operations in Rajasthan. Assembly strength reduced again! Now, Gulab Chand Kataria will have to resign as MLA and the strength in Assembly will be reduced to 199. By-elections may also be held in Kataria’s constituency Udaipur.