SP's progressive face, Akhilesh Yadav carries an iPhone & talks development. The Samajwadi state chief assures Swati Mathur his party's aggressive image is a thing of the past & he is confident of forming the next govt
Swati Mathur: How well are you prepared for the assembly elections?
Akhilesh Yadav: SP was the first to declare candidates. We started campaigning early. Our message was consistent: We'd continue riding the rath and our cycle until we defeat BSP. I have toured over 170 constituencies and hope to cover at least 300.
Apart from anti-incumbency , what other factors may work in your favour?
SP has worked hard to expose the government's real face. We have grass-roots connect. We have raised issues that concern the common man. Electricity, corruption and lack of infrastructure , cheaper fertilizers, seeds and irrigation projects are issues we've fought for.
This election is being projected as a Akhilesh vs Rahul battle. Is this hype?
He may be the Congress' 'yuvraj' , but he still is not yuvraj of the masses. For every parent , his child is 'yuvraj' or 'rajkumar' . Even I am called the 'yuvraj' sometimes. But, ultimately , everything depends on who the public throws its weight behind. In 2007, when the Congress was doing road shows in UP, I was also on my cycle yatra. In Lucknow, the Congress event did not garner much support. Three days later, nearly 10,000 people cycled with me on my cycle yatra.
The Congress claims we are against computers and English . SP has never run down English or any other language. We have no problem using the language to communicate. But we have encouraged Hindi or Urdu as the language of work. Computers can also be run in Hindi and Urdu languages. Why don't they (Congress) ever talk about computers in Urdu and Hindi? Congress should not dupe people. People know mobile technology, computers can be run in local languages.
The perception is that the average SP worker is militant. But you have not been aggressive.
Our fight is against an autocratic CM. In jest, we sometimes refer to her as Statue Queen CM. Seriously though, Ram Manohar Lohia said a samajwadi worker should be vocal. He must protest against unjust behaviour . Lohiaji asked workers to be militant. This doesn't mean workers should be aggressive for wrong reasons. SP won't support any person or group that has an element of criminality . I'm ensuring that myself . Much of what has been said of SP is political mudslinging .
But you do not reiterate this at your public rallies. Why?
Here we're caught up in discussing statues and parks. But now, at every given opportunity, we're talking development. That is our mandate. We're looking at plans for developing rural and urban areas . We're considering looking at area-wise development.
What are you doing to consolidate the Muslim vote? Will Congress's minority quota work?
This quota is not just for Muslims. It applies to Christians , Jains, Buddhists as well. It's applicable to the entire country. Muslims will actually get nothing. We, on the other hand, gave the weaver community-Ansaris-subsidized electricity. We ensured their raw material was purchased at profitable rates. Even without any quotas, we ensured 14% Muslim youth were recruited into the police force. Congress is only talking 4.5% reservation.
Isn't defection ahead of the polls sheer opportunism?
It's politics. Everyone wants to side with the winner. Many join politics because they want tickets. Many swap sides before polls. 'Ye aandhi ke aam hain, jo acche hon, unko utha lo, baaki bekaar.' (They are like fruits that fall during storms. Pick the ones that aren't damaged , throw the others.) Sacked BSP ministers wanted to join SP. We turned them away. Having a Naresh Agarwal in our midst works to our advantage. It is said that the party he joins forms the government.
Will the Anna factor have an impact?
It will, to an extent. The rural population knows that this man raised an issue that concerns their lives. They know Anna is fighting for a valid cause. They are seeing that the BSP government is corrupt. It is a key issue.
But there's nothing bigger than the caste factor in UP elections.
Most UP elections are fought with caste as the deciding factor . However, it's not always true. People now talk of development . The caste factor will not die. Politicians will use it to their advantage. The CM plays the caste card. She becomes 'dalit ki beti' every time she is cornered. Congress does the same, when it fields senior leaders in an area where his caste is dominant.
Am I speaking to the CM-designate?
I have repeatedly said that party MLAs have chosen Mulayam Singh as their CM candidate . I have a big role within the party as state president. Our collective aim is to lead SP to a resounding victory.
Swati Mathur: How well are you prepared for the assembly elections?
Akhilesh Yadav: SP was the first to declare candidates. We started campaigning early. Our message was consistent: We'd continue riding the rath and our cycle until we defeat BSP. I have toured over 170 constituencies and hope to cover at least 300.
Apart from anti-incumbency , what other factors may work in your favour?
SP has worked hard to expose the government's real face. We have grass-roots connect. We have raised issues that concern the common man. Electricity, corruption and lack of infrastructure , cheaper fertilizers, seeds and irrigation projects are issues we've fought for.
This election is being projected as a Akhilesh vs Rahul battle. Is this hype?
He may be the Congress' 'yuvraj' , but he still is not yuvraj of the masses. For every parent , his child is 'yuvraj' or 'rajkumar' . Even I am called the 'yuvraj' sometimes. But, ultimately , everything depends on who the public throws its weight behind. In 2007, when the Congress was doing road shows in UP, I was also on my cycle yatra. In Lucknow, the Congress event did not garner much support. Three days later, nearly 10,000 people cycled with me on my cycle yatra.
The Congress claims we are against computers and English . SP has never run down English or any other language. We have no problem using the language to communicate. But we have encouraged Hindi or Urdu as the language of work. Computers can also be run in Hindi and Urdu languages. Why don't they (Congress) ever talk about computers in Urdu and Hindi? Congress should not dupe people. People know mobile technology, computers can be run in local languages.
The perception is that the average SP worker is militant. But you have not been aggressive.
Our fight is against an autocratic CM. In jest, we sometimes refer to her as Statue Queen CM. Seriously though, Ram Manohar Lohia said a samajwadi worker should be vocal. He must protest against unjust behaviour . Lohiaji asked workers to be militant. This doesn't mean workers should be aggressive for wrong reasons. SP won't support any person or group that has an element of criminality . I'm ensuring that myself . Much of what has been said of SP is political mudslinging .
But you do not reiterate this at your public rallies. Why?
Here we're caught up in discussing statues and parks. But now, at every given opportunity, we're talking development. That is our mandate. We're looking at plans for developing rural and urban areas . We're considering looking at area-wise development.
What are you doing to consolidate the Muslim vote? Will Congress's minority quota work?
This quota is not just for Muslims. It applies to Christians , Jains, Buddhists as well. It's applicable to the entire country. Muslims will actually get nothing. We, on the other hand, gave the weaver community-Ansaris-subsidized electricity. We ensured their raw material was purchased at profitable rates. Even without any quotas, we ensured 14% Muslim youth were recruited into the police force. Congress is only talking 4.5% reservation.
Isn't defection ahead of the polls sheer opportunism?
It's politics. Everyone wants to side with the winner. Many join politics because they want tickets. Many swap sides before polls. 'Ye aandhi ke aam hain, jo acche hon, unko utha lo, baaki bekaar.' (They are like fruits that fall during storms. Pick the ones that aren't damaged , throw the others.) Sacked BSP ministers wanted to join SP. We turned them away. Having a Naresh Agarwal in our midst works to our advantage. It is said that the party he joins forms the government.
Will the Anna factor have an impact?
It will, to an extent. The rural population knows that this man raised an issue that concerns their lives. They know Anna is fighting for a valid cause. They are seeing that the BSP government is corrupt. It is a key issue.
But there's nothing bigger than the caste factor in UP elections.
Most UP elections are fought with caste as the deciding factor . However, it's not always true. People now talk of development . The caste factor will not die. Politicians will use it to their advantage. The CM plays the caste card. She becomes 'dalit ki beti' every time she is cornered. Congress does the same, when it fields senior leaders in an area where his caste is dominant.
Am I speaking to the CM-designate?
I have repeatedly said that party MLAs have chosen Mulayam Singh as their CM candidate . I have a big role within the party as state president. Our collective aim is to lead SP to a resounding victory.
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