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No provision in democracy prohibits giving electoral tickets to family members: Akhilesh Yadav responds on ‘parivarvad’
SAIFAI: ‘They can also give tickets to their family members,’ says Samajwadi Chief Akhilesh Yadav responding to the ‘parivarvad’ controversy by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
With the fifth phase of elections kicking off in India on May 20, Akhilesh Yadav, national president of the Samajwadi Party who served as the 20th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, is leading the campaign for the Samajwadi Party in UP.
In an interview with Rohan Dua, Executive Editor of The New Indian, former Samajwadi Party Chief speaks about his upcoming elections, his father’s legacy, and issues surrounding paper leaks, electoral bonds and inflation.
Excerpts from the interview:
Rohan Dua: Four phases of the Lok Sabha elections are over. Now, you are contesting from Kannauj in the fifth phase. You are the son of Mulayam Singh, who rose from this small town to become the Defense Minister and the Chief Minister. He inspired young politicians like you. Do you miss his presence during this election or are you confident about winning?
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Akhilesh Yadav: The most significant aspect of the current elections is the overwhelming anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sentiment that has gripped the nation. Their popularity has been consistently plummeting, and with each passing phase, the public’s anger towards the BJP has been escalating exponentially. The anger will continue to grow and reach the sky until the seventh and final phase.
The fourth phase of elections happened in areas that support the Samajwadi Party (SP). After this current phase, the BJP will be finished. They will lose power after this phase.
Neta ji, Mulayam Singh, and Dr Rammanohar Lohia showed us the path of socialism. The people of this country always follow that path. People still believe that until the villages are prosperous, and farmers are wealthy, no matter how much we try, India won’t be called ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) or be on the list of the richest countries.
Rohan Dua: How much do you feel the absence of Mulayam Singh, a great leader who served as the Defence Minister and ChiefMminister will affect the elections as this is the first general election you are fighting without him by your side?
Akhilesh Yadav: We have to carry forward the legacy of the revolution. It is our party’s responsibility to ensure that the revolution my father has started continues for the next 100 years.
He left us with a big organization and a lot of responsibility. We are moving forward with them. We hope that the Samajwadi Party, with its historic results, will have most seats of the INDIA-Gadbandhan and PDA (Pichde, Dalit, Alpasankhyak). With such support from the people, I think it will become a record.
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Rohan Dua: Do you believe that the BJP voters are coming to you because of the issues you raised, whether it is the Brijesh Pal case in Kannauj, the case of the paper leaks or the high unemployment rate?
Akhilesh Yadav: The farmers were promised double income, by this government, but the cost of farming has gone up instead. The youth were promised 2 crore jobs every year, but there have been paper leaks and exam cancellations. Inflation is very high right now. It is everywhere. The cost of schooling, running a household, and especially medicines have all gone up. Medications that were cheap 10 years ago are now very expensive.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has done a big scam. The cost of medicines, motorcycles, and diesel has also gone up. They are not giving jobs and increasing inflation. They don’t have answers about electoral bonds. Electoral bonds have brought corruption to the forefront. The scam is real. This is why corruption and inflation have increased.
Rohan Dua: The opposition accuses the BJP of using electoral bonds, while the BJP accuses members of the Samajwadi Party of dynastic politics. They say this could hurt the party’s political future. What would you say about this?
The BJP’s family is dangerous. They are full of hatred and create negative narratives. We ask, who has stopped BJP from giving tickets on their own? The Constitution doesn’t say you can’t give tickets to family members. Look at America, Europe, and the world. It’s common for political, business, doctor, journalist, and judge families to continue the legacy. There is nothing wrong with it. This is not an election issue. They are making this false accusation to distract us from real issues. The public is no longer accepting the hatred and will defeat them.
Rohan Dua: Do Jayant Chaudhary and Pallavi Patel’s leaving hurt your chances of winning?
Akhilesh Yadav: How does it matter? It’s not a problem, this is politics. People come and go, it is the public support that matters.
Rohan Dua: Your wife is again contesting from the Mainpuri seat, continuing your father’s legacy. You must be proud of her for taking on this responsibility.
Akhilesh Yadav: We all have to work together and carry on this legacy of socialism.
Rohan Dua: Your vote share has increased since 2017. Do you believe it will rise again?
Akhilesh Yadav: I think the vote share and the number of seats, both will increase. And the extraordinary fight that the PDA family is fighting with the NDA will matter a lot.
