In an interview to Indian Express over the recently concluded Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad claimed that “the opposition failed to defeat the BJP in the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections because, in the hope of getting a few upper caste votes, they forgot and ignored the interests of the Bahujan Samaj“.
“A lie was spread that Brahmins were angry with the BJP. They weren’t. All upper-caste votes were in the BJP’s favor. And the Opposition misread the situation and they hoped for votes from upper castes, which was never going to happen”, said Azad as reported by Indian Express.
The Opposition failed to fight on the Principle of ‘85 vs 15’
Talking about Samajwadi Party‘s alliance with a few smaller parties, Azad said that “the alliance was incomplete and, hence, the results were also incomplete”.
“I had said long ago that without taking along the Bahujan Samaj, when the BJP is fighting using the ‘80 vs 20’ rhetoric, then the Opposition will have to fight on the principle of ‘85 vs 15’. That means bringing together the oppressed against the oppressor”, he added.
He said that the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Castes, and minorities will have to come together to defeat the Brahmanical forces.
The Opposition Failed to Create a Narrative of Oppressed against the Oppressor
Criticizing the opposition parties for their failure to create a narrative of Oppressed against the Oppressor, Azad said that the “BJP is not just fighting for power but is changing the system. They are violating people’s rights. They are selling public properties and ending the government system”.
“They are indulging in politics of revenge and blackmail. No one spoke about reservation and backlog in recruitment for reserved government jobs. If someone does ask about it, the BJP files fake cases against them.
Saying that BJP has already murdered democracy, he said that people who are jailed in fake cases for raising their voice do not get bail from courts because the BJP conspires there too.
“The BJP won because this election’s narrative was not about the oppressed against the oppressor. I went to meet the alliance partners but they were confident about forming the government. The result of that confidence is for everyone to see”, he added.
BSP abandoned the 85 Percent Bahujan Samaj
Commenting over the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party’s disastrous performance in the elections, Azad said BSP lost because it has abandoned the Bahujan Samaj and rather is working for the interest of Hindu upper castes only.
“Tell me about the five times in the last five years when the BSP either held agitations or protested on issues of the Bahujan community. Everyone knows the answer. The truth is the BSP works for upper-caste communities and has left its basic principle behind”
He alleged that the BSP has abandoned the 85 percent Bahujan Samaj that was created by honorable Kanshiram and has gone with the remaining 15 percent.
Criticizing BSP supremo Mayawati, Azad said that she is the one who makes decisions in the party. She allotted the tickets and the results are for her to see. She is responsible for the performance.
Bahujan Samaj will Rise Again
Talking about the role of his Azad Samaj Party and his future strategy, Chandra Shekhar Azad said that he will prepare a leadership of the Bahujan Samaj and will work on strengthening his party.
“We will give [Bahujan Samaj] what is their due. I have said multiple times that a community’s share in society should be based on its population. And if this is tinkered with at any level, then there will be anger and opposition”, said Azad.
Vote Hamara Raj Tumhara Nahi Chalega
He said further that the slogan of ‘Jiski jitni sankhya bhaari, uski utni hissedari’ (proportionate representation of based on the ratio of the population) needs to be strengthened and taken forward.
People also need to be made aware of the slogan of ‘vote hamara raj tumhara, nahi chalega’. The BJP takes the votes of the weak and gives power to the rich corporates.
“They are opening doors for people from some particular communities while pushing others towards slavery. A people’s movement is required to topple the BJP and that movement will be prepared based on issues”, said Azad.
