Nine-time MLA and Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad, who has given a big blow to the BJP in
Ayodhya
, spoke to Arshad Afzaal Khan about his remarkable feat. Prasad, 78, is one of the founder members of
SP
. Prasad, a
Dalit
, defeated BJP MP Lallu Singh by over 54,000 votes on Faizabad seat (a non-reserved seat). Excerpts:
After the inauguration of Ram temple, BJP looked invincible in Ayodhya.
What led to its defeat in temple town?
BJP tried to take the credit for the Ram temple which was constructed on the orders of the Supreme Court. It unsuccessfully tried to derive political mileage from it to divert people’s attention from issues such as unemployment, poverty, inflation and stray cattle menace. In fact, I was not contesting against the BJP but it were the people fighting against it. During the two-month long campaign, I had received immense
support
and affection like never before from the people.
In 2019, SP had lost Ayodhya seat by around 65,000 votes. This time you got 5,54,289 votes and won with a margin of 54,567 at a time when BJP was riding on the Ram temple’s chariot. How did it happen?
We got the maximum support from our Dalit community who were the real sufferers of BJP policies that have led to inflation, unemployment and poverty. They had voted for BJP in the last elections. Along with Dalits, we had a strong support base among backward classes, OBCs and minorities. We got full support from farmers, irrespective of caste and religion, as they are fed up with the stray cattle menace.
You are a Dalit while Ayodhya is a general seat. Still, you chose to contest from a place which is perceived as a ‘saffron fort’. What was your strategy?
My grandfather Ram Nawal, father Dukhi Ram, brother Ram Awadh, maternal uncle Parashuram, and father-in-law Ram Sevak, all of them have ‘Ram’ in their names. The name of Shri Ram is closely associated with my family and ancestors. We consider our-selves fortunate to have been born in Ayodhya. I had no strategy. The victory became possible only due to the blessings of
Lord Ram
and Lord Hanuman and the support of the people. I was confident these three powers would help me secure victory.
NDA targeted 400-plus seats in the Lok Sabha elections but it suffered setbacks in Uttar Pradesh. Your take?
Due to the insensitivity of BJP govt, over 7 crore unemployed people crossed the age limit for jobs. At least 60 lakh candidates prepared for the police recruitment exam and their future is uncertain after the paper leak. There was resentment against BJP.
You belong to the generation of great socialist leaders like Ram Manohar L ohia, Madhu Limaye, Raj Narain, Jayaprak ash Narayan and Chandra Shekhar. How do you comp are Akhilesh Yadav with these leaders?
Un mahaan Samajwadi netaon ki khwaabon ki tabeer hain Akhilesh Yadav (He is the realisation of dreams of those great socialist leaders). I see him as the only neta who can provide a democratic and secular govt in the state and the country.
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