Despite his stellar performance in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Samajwadi Party It won all five seats in Ambedkarnagar district – four of its MLAs were former BSP leaders who had joined the party before the elections. These include Lalji Verma, who was once close to BSP chief Mayawati. asad rehman speak to LALJI VERMA What went wrong for SP and BSP in this election. Interview excerpts:
Why SP failed to get majority in UP elections, while in power! BJP Cruises for the absolute majority?
BJP has been successful in misleading people on the basis of its religious agenda. And wherever the party managed to do so, it won. Where they could not do so, they had to face a big defeat. Compared to the last elections, there has been a decline in BJP’s seats by 55 seats… People voted in favor of BJP because of religious mobilization…
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You were one of the tallest leaders of the BSP, who are now left with just one seat. BSP chief Mayawati has said that the Muslim vote went to the SP, and the community made a mistake in doing so. What do you think about the political future of BSP?
Muslims have voted for SP, no doubt about it… BSP has no base among the people. It has got only 12 per cent votes… The party does not have any leader from backward castes. It gave maximum ticket to Brahmins and Muslims… and has no support of any Dalit caste except Jatavs. Due to these reasons BSP was not in controversy in this election and will continue to be so.
Do you think the BSP made a mistake in giving more importance to its general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra? What do you think about their Brahmin outreach program?
He (Mishra) is not qualified for a leadership role. Any party has a core ideology… If you move towards ‘Manuvad’, you have abandoned the core ideals of the party, and naturally the voters will leave you.
What went right for the SP in Ambedkar Nagar district, but not at the state level?
Ambedkarnagar always stayed away from the politics of hate…people of ambedkarnagar did not vote on the basis of religion…
How is SP preparing to be in opposition for five years?
I am sure SP will fill the gap this time.
This time, the SP forged an alliance with smaller parties like Om Prakash Rajbhar’s SBSP and parties with a base among non-Yadav OBCs. But he could not get the benefit which he had hoped for. what went wrong?
The party has benefited from the SP alliance. But like I said, there are some communities that are not part of the mainstream who lag behind the BJP on the basis of religion. BJP has not got votes on the basis of its capability. Communal speech of Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) and Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has benefited them.