Electrification of all villages shows the Modi government’s ability to work in mission mode, and the next step of power to all households is within reach, says Union minister Piyush Goyal. The co-incharge of BJP’s Karnataka campaign told Sidhartha and Rajeev Deshpande in an interview that this doer image will help BJP win. He also responded to allegations over his business dealings. Excerpts:
After village electrification, how feasible is the target of household electrification by the year end?

PM Narendra Modi’s promise that he will ensure all 18,252 census villages without electricity get a connection in 1,000 days has not only been achieved but another 1,227 villages, not covered in the original list but found to be un-electrified, have also been reached. It demonstrates that when this government takes up a target, we achieve it. We have also started reaching hamlets, majlas, tolas, dhanis.

Any number of this...

It could be in thousands and thousands. Our approach is that every willing consumer must get a connection. We are going to have camps in villages, vans will reach them to show benefits of a legal connection.

Do you have the infrastructure in place?

Most places yes. Though, somehow, we have faced problems in Karnataka where we were not allowed to get the land needed for setting up facilities. But after elections — I am confident we will see a BJP government — a double engine of development will work — the Centre and the state in unison.

What makes you so confident that BJP is winning?

People are frustrated by the level of corruption and malfeasance. In Bengaluru... just the name George, Harris, Roshan Baig. These stand for corruption and mafia raj. People are praying for change, it is evident.