NEW DELHI: Vijay Kumar Malhotra is fast getting over his MP days. With the city elections coming up in a week's time, the CM challenger is busy immersing himself in local issues, even as he confidently claims BJP will "sweep the polls''. In a freewheeling interview with Times City, Malhotra talks about what he thinks the future holds. Excerpts:

Q. How many seats do you realistically think the party will get?

A. Though there's a week more of the campaigning left, I would say we're looking at bagging at least 35 seats definitely, with another 25 seats where the party has a good chance. The rest I would say are seats that we realistically aren't expecting much from. We will do well in the rural areas.

Q. Do you think you fielded the best possible candidate everywhere?

A. There may have been some discontent in some seats, but with so many aspirants, someone will be left out. We've ensured that all communities have got the right representation: the list has Jats, Gujjars, Poorvanchalis, Brahmins and others and not just Punjabis and Vaishs, which has been the tradition till now.

Q. How important a part is BSP going to play in BJP's calculations?

A. Till the last elections, BSP hadn't really figured in our calculations. But after the municipal elections, where they won 17 seats in some wards they came in second, with Congress trailing in third place it looks like BSP will play spoiler for Congress. They've fielded Brahmin and other candidates in some of the Assembly seats, which may have an impact on our chances but the main part will be played on Congress votes. Especially in the 12 SC seats and some others. In total, I'd say 25 seats where BSP will play a part.

Q. You've been a member of Parliament since 1977. As such, there has been speculation that your connect with the local constituents in Greater Kailash is not as good as it could be. Comment.

A. As the sole BJP MP in Delhi, I've interacted with over 200 party workers every day in the past few years. I was also in-charge of elections, so workers know me very well. As for the voters, I've been going on padyatras to get to know them.

Q. What about charges that your candidature made many unhappy within the party?

A. There may have been some discontent in the past but everything has been sorted out. I don't think there was any objection to my being the CM-designate since I am the senior-most party member in Delhi. I was one of the founder-members of the Jan Sangh in 1951, and was the chief executive councillor (chief minister in protocol) way back in 1967. I have full support of my party members.

Q. BJP has been attacking the development plank of the Congress. But what does it have to offer as an alternative?

A. In the past ten years, Congress hasn't built a single college while BJP opened 18 colleges in 1968. Neither has the Congress regularised any of the unauthorised colonies except offering provisional certificates, which have no legal basis. In other areas as well, it has done little. BJP on the other hand has not only talked about development but done it before it was a buzzword. We built the first flyover and subway when no one was talking about development. If we come back to power, we promise to take the city forward.