Although the BJP has struck an alliance with the Trinamool Congress, there seems to be no love lost between you and Mamata Banerjee. What's the problem between you?

It's no personal rivalry or an ego clash. I've problems with her style of functioning. Besides, she repeatedly made derogatory comments about me (she called him ``a house durban''), which my partymen didn't like.

Was her style responsible for the setback the TC-BJP combine suffered in the panchayat polls?

The panchayat results were not expected. Although we agreed on seat adjustments, the TC violated the agreement. Mamata herself admitted her party made adjustments with the Congress at many places. The alliance atmosphere was vitiated.Otherwise, we could have snatched a lot more seats -- particularly of panchayat samitis and zilla parishads -- from the CPI(M). But, in the process, they (the TC) suffered too. In 1993, the Congress won a total of 19,000 seats at the three levels of gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zilla parishad. This time, the TC and the Congress together got at least 5,000 seats less.

Many thought Mamata didn't want to go too close to the BJP for fear of losing Muslim votes. In the panchayat polls, the TC-BJP combine lost heavily, not only to the CPI(M) but also to the Congress, in Muslim-dominated districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur. She may have thought that way. But the fact is not only the TC but also the BJP have made inroads into the minority community. Remember our candidate for the Berhampore Lok Sabha seat in Murshidabad district got 2.65 lakh votes and came second to the CPI(M). In the panchayat elections, we put up 200 Muslim candidates in Murshidabad district. Bycontrast, in Murshidabad and Jangipur Lok Sabha constituencies, the TC candidates lost their deposits. In the panchayat polls, (A.B.A.) Ghani Khan Choudhury took away the Congress votes in Malda and Murshidabad, while Priya Ranjan Das Munshi stalled the TC in the Dinajpur district.

You agree that the TC-BJP bickerings helped the CPI(M) in the rural polls?

Yes, these polls have been a lesson for us in both the BJP and TC.

So where do you go from here?

Are there serious attempts to put the alliance back on rail, now that there are the three Assembly byelections and polls to 12 municipal corporations? Yes, we've done some soul-searching. I spoke to Mamata in the Parliament lobbies.

This should be news. You two were practically not on speaking terms.Well, I've had no problem. Everyone knows she refused to speak to me.

And, what did you say to each other?

We said we've to talk. We've to do politics in West Bengal. It's no use trying to avoid the state BJP and get things donethrough our Central leadership. Sudip (Bandyopadhyay, TC leader and MP) was also there. He agreed.

So what have you agreed on regarding the coming elections?

Well, you know we didn't like the way Mamata unilaterally announced TC candidates for the three Assembly by-elections. We wanted to contest one -- Rashbehari constituency. But our central parliamentary board decided not to press it. We've also decided to try and have total adjustment for the civic polls.

And joint campaign?

Sudip suggested I and Mamata campaign jointly. I readily agreed. Besides, when she raised the issue of CPI(M) atrocities in the villages before and after the panchayat polls in the Lok Sabha, I gave her full-throated support.

Did the central BJP leaders intervene to bring about a rapprochement?

Our central leadership has accepted my views. Mamata too has realised that we've to work together.

As president of the state BJP, what plans do you have to increase the party's base and strength in WestBengal?

I discussed some plans with party president Kushabhao Thakre. He also advised me to do certain things. He may visit the State on June 23, the martyrdom day of Shyama Prasad Mookherjee.

How do you propose to expand the party base in West Bengal?

We've decided to try and strengthen our base among the refugees (from former East Pakistan and Bangladesh). The CPI(M) has long exploited the refugee issue for political gains. Vajpayeeji has given me a commitment to start a rehabilitation programme for Bengali refugees.

How was it despite Shyama Prasad Mookherjee, the Hindu Mahasabha, Jan Sangh or the BJP failed to exploit the refugee issue?

Shyama Prasad did not live long enough to consolidate the Jan Sangh base. He had an all-India vision. Those who rallied to him were attracted, not so much by his ideology as by his personality. There was a vacuum on the Bengali refugee issue which the Communists exploited.

The Bengal BJP has just put together a plan for the state's economicresurgence. What do you think are the urgent needs for that?

Most importantly, there is the need to bring back work culture which the Marxists destroyed. The Congress governments have also contributed to the economic decline. Now, the Prime Minister has agreed to give more powers to the states. But we also want the state government to be more accountable.

Mamata has demanded imposition of Article 356 in the state. Do you agree?

We are an all-India party. Our central leadership has to consider several things before taking a decision on this. But something has to be done to stop the CPI(M) from carrying on the atrocities.

But of those killed in the panchayat poll-related violence, there were 29 CPM men too. Even the TC and the BJP have been accused of joining the killing spree.

Everyone has the right to self-defence. There is no denying that the Marxists have been the offenders in most cases.