The Tribune Interview: ‘No pressure from BJP to stay away from electoral fray’

India’s richest woman and Jindal group chairperson Savitri Jindal has joined the electoral fray to pursue her aspirations. She associated her political aspirations with that of the people of Hisar as she has joined the contest as an Independent candidate when denied the ticket by the BJP. A former minister and two-time MLA is carrying forward the legacy of her late husband, Om Prakash Jindal.

I was hoping for the BJP nomination.

But when it did not happen, people of Hisar and my supporters exhorted me to contest the election...I have to abide by their wishes

Even as her son Naveen Jindal is BJP MP from Kurukshetra, she put her foot down to take the field opposite BJP candidate Kamal Gupta from Hisar Assembly constituency.

In an interview with The Tribune, the soft-spoken housewife-turned-businesswomen-turned-politician seems resolute in her decision. Sitting in her sprawling bungalow known as Jindal House in her hometown Hisar, she took time from her busy schedule of meeting people and attending public events and revealed that it was her own decision to take the electoral field.

She said she was hoping for the BJP nomination but when it did not happen, people of Hisar started pouring in to her and aspired that she should contest the election. Asked whether there was any pressure from BJP to stay away from the electoral fray, she denied any such pressure. She, however, said her family (Jindals) also left it to her to take the final call.

“My family was okay with my decision. They collectively decided to let me make my own decision. They are with me,” she said.

Asked about her son Naveen Jindal, who is also the star campaigner for the BJP, she said, “Naveen will work for the party as per the requirement of the BJP. I have many sons and daughters in Hisar who have been working for me in this election,” she said and added that she had not joined the BJP.

Talking about her late husband Om Prakash Jindal, she said she had little exposure to politics at that time. “I had no role except to interact with women who visited the house. I used to take care of the household. After his demise in the accident in 2005, people asked me to follow the footsteps in politics,” she said.

Jindal, who skipped the 2019 election after losing the 2014 Assembly poll, said her supporters were of the view that she should contest the election this time. “I have to abide by their wishes,” she said.

Though she did not name her opponent BJP candidate Kamal Gupta, Jindal said Hisar town has been passing through the worst of times in terms of basic civil amenities and facilities. “Roads, water supply and sewerage system are in tatters in Hisar. Cattle problem and traffic congestion are giving a harrowing time to the people as many accidents occur due to the cattle on the roads,” she said. “Whatever facilities were there in Hisar are busting in seams due to expansion of the town,” Jindal said adding that she had been receiving complaints from many localities about the backflow of the sewerage due to choked lines and entering the rainwater due to lack of proper rainwater drainage.

Showing confidence about her victory, she replied like a seasoned politician when asked which way — the BJP or Congress — she would go if she wins the contest. “I will go with the people of Hisar and raise the issues concerning them in the Assembly,” she said.