Backward Dalits and Muslims are being left behind in Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘PDA’

The leadership of Samajwadi Party is always accused of nepotism, but this has never had any bad effect on the health of the party. But now the situation is changing. After dynasticism in SP, the way courage is being shown in sending outsiders to Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council has created an uproar within the party. However, its spark started rising only when SP released the first list of 16 candidates for the Lok Sabha. This spark has further flared up due to the SP chief arbitrarily selecting candidates for Rajya Sabha. SP leaders and workers are saying that our work and your rights will not work. The way SP chief Akhilesh Yadav gave tickets to outsiders in Rajya Sabha, not only Swami Prasad Maurya but many other leaders have also become angry. The situation is such that backward classes, Dalits and Muslims, who are considered to be the strong vote bank of SP, are also feeling cheated by the attitude of Akhilesh. Swami Prasad Maurya has already expressed his displeasure and announced the formation of a new party, while SP’s Dalit leader and former minister Kamalakant Gautam has resigned from his post due to his displeasure. On the other hand, many leaders of the Muslims are saying that 90 percent of the Muslims vote for the Samajwadi Party and they are shown tinkering in the name of rights. Akhilesh will have to explain why he could not think of the name of any Muslim leader for Rajya Sabha. SP is being accused from all sides inside and outside that its Backward, Dalit, Muslim (PDA) is an illusion.

National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has written a letter to SP President Akhilesh Yadav, expressing his displeasure over not even a single Muslim leader from SP getting Rajya Sabha ticket, saying that your decision has caused great pain. Praising Congress, Maulana has written that former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is taking out a march against hatred across the country. He is busy saving the Constitution and uniting peace loving people. In such a situation, SP should be supported. To stop BJP, SP and Congress will have to come on one platform. He said that under no circumstances should one make the mistake of strengthening sectarian forces. Do not hurt the sentiments and feelings of Muslims. He alleged that SP is giving wrong seats to Congress in Uttar Pradesh. It is clear from this that you intend to field a weak candidate against BJP in the Lok Sabha. From the candidate announced against Rajnath Singh in Lucknow, it also appears that BJP has been given a walkover.

For the Samajwadi Party, the storm within the party before the last elections may prove to be an alarm bell. If this is not stopped in time, the party may have to suffer losses in the Lok Sabha elections because Akhilesh’s PDA campaign is facing setbacks one after the other. After Swami Prasad Maurya, former minister and state secretary of SP Kamalakant Gautam has resigned from his post. Kamalakant’s restlessness also seems to be similar to that of Swami Prasad. He said that the post of Secretary has been made inactive and ineffective. At the same time, Bahujan community is hurt due to discrimination and biased treatment towards Swami Prasad Maurya. In such a situation, there is no justification for continuing in an unimportant post, hence I am resigning.

Earlier, Pallavi Patel of Apna Dal Kamerawadi had shown displeasure regarding the issue of PDA, later Swami Prasad had left the post of National General Secretary. Kamalkant has written in his resignation letter that till date no important responsibility has been assigned to me. The party’s support base cannot be increased without any responsibility and accountability. Gautam says that he has always been a part of the struggle for social change. I keep trying to provide rights and entitlements to the deprived society. Raising the issue of discrimination, biased behavior and neglect in the party with Maurya, he has written that the Bahujan community is hurt by this. In such a situation, I do not see any justification in continuing in an unimportant post. He has said that I am resigning from the post of State Secretary of SP but will continue to work without the post.

-Sanjay Saxena