During the elections, parties speak what the voters like to hear

Former Maharashtra chief minister and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Chavan is handling two responsibilities: To ensure maximum seats for the BJP from his erstwhile stronghold of Nanded and to guide his daughter who is contesting from Bhokar constituency.

- Surendra P Gangan

Chavan spoke to HT on welfare schemes, and how he needed to shift after a lifetime in the Congress to the BJP so he could "breathe freely". Edited excerpts from the interview:

Do you think the political 'hawa' has changed in the few months since the Lok Sabha polls?

Lok Sabha and Assembly are different concepts. We fared poorly (in the Lok Sabha polls) because of factors like choice of candidate, the stance taken by party workers etc. But we have taken corrective measures since. Besides social engineering, schemes like Ladki Bahin have helped turn the sentiments in the favour of the ruling alliance.