BSP National Co-ordinator and party chief Mayawati’s nephew Akash Anand is virtually leading the party campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as she appears to have taken a back seat. Anand spoke with Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi on a host of issues.Q: BSP had contested the 2019 general elections in alliance with SP and RLD, winning 10 seats. Why fight alone this time?A: If you look at 2014 and 2019 data, we were hovering around 19% percent. On cutting into Opposition votes, we want to make absolutely clear that when we contest alone we maintain our vote-share but in alliance our partner cuts into our vote-share, helping BJP. We are quite confident and competent this time.Does BSP feel that though it is able to transfer its vote to its pre-poll ally, its partners like SP or RLD do not?Historically, it is very clear that BSP is able to divert its votes to its alliance partner, but the same cannot be said for the other side.What about the perception that BSP contesting alone will cut into non-BJP votes and thus help BJP?It is a negative way of putting this that BSP will cut into Opposition votes. Voters are not anybody’s heirloom. We are all political parties and we all deserve to go out and ask for votes and let the voters decide.
Does BSP apprehend that Congress will wean away its votes?
No. I think there is a principle and fundamental challenge with Congress. We don’t align with that- whether it was about giving reservations or representation to our people or paying respects to Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Congress failed miserably on these issues.How do you see INDIA bloc, especially Congress and SP contesting together in UP?I think they are becoming a distraction for the voters. They will eventually end up helping BJP win seats, rather than the Opposition. Voters deserve the right to know exactly where a party stands on issues that matter to them and Congress has not been able to put that across categorically- on free rations, employment, law and order. They are in power in some states and are a part of the system that believes in free giving schemes. They are not discussing the real challenges facing the people.One of the main poll planks of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the welfare schemes like free foodgrains, affordable housing, Ujjwala and so on. How do you see that?Whenever there is a free scheme- whether free rations or subsidy on LPG cylinders, I think addressing the base price and backend cost is more important than subsidies. BJP is providing free rations to 80 Cr which is going to cost Rs 2 Lakh Crore of taxpayers money. That is the cost borne by the taxpayers, especially the middle class…. Nobody has asked them if this is something that is right… Where the real issue lies is that if this money had been used to convert those 80 crore people into employed people that would have added a minimum of Rs 2 Lakh Crore to the GDP.
Are you suggesting that the free foodgrain scheme should be discontinued?Of course, the government should phase it out. If not immediately, then slowly. Government should focus on creating employment, work on the backend cost, and on reducing prices of gas cylinders. Government should focus on that rather than give subsidies. This will lower the burden on taxpayers and reduce the deficit.
There is a perception that with the growth of BJP since 2014 Mayawati has gone into the background and is not very active in politics. Why?Ma’m has always believed in ground work rather than creating perceptions. She believes in handling the issues upfront. That is what she has done in the past decade. It is a matter of strategy and a very conscious step… On the ground our cadre remains with us and our vote-share has not moved much.
BSP has been on the decline since 2014. It needs the extra votes apart from its 19% core votes.Our core voter is with us. As for the floating voters, yes there has been little bit of weaning away. Now we are trying to recapture the mind-space of new voters, we feel we will get the support back.
BSP has fielded many candidates from the minority community that many see as cutting into the Opposition votes and helping BJP.That may not be the right statement. Just like other parties, we are trying to get votes. It could also be said that they are cutting into our votes. Congress and SP have learnt that if we give space to minorities in Parliament, they will also have to do so.
In 2007, BSP formed a government through social engineering when Brahmins voted for BSP. After the Ram temple issue gained traction, this voter has moved away.I think the voters will realise the core issues. BSP stands for employment, safety and security of all, health and welfare of all, including Brahmins…. The voter is clear that they want a government that can help secure their future, rather than on sentiments.
You think the government should stop subsidies?Certainly, we need to actually grow our economy. Our dependency on China is growing. We should be focusing on production inhouse, instead of being import surplus… Subsidy is a temporary solution; only a band-aid on a deep cut.
There was a charge that during Mayawati’s government, a lot of taxpayers’ money was spent on constructing parks.If Ram temple is justified, our parks are a way of paying homage to our leaders…. We are not opposing Ram temple, Babri mosque, or BJP’s tribute to Atal ji. It is very unfair to oppose BSP when it is paying respects to its leaders.
BJP has assured that if it comes to power for the third time, it will not do away with reservations.One should look at their track record on what they have committed and what they have delivered on the ground. It is very difficult for the common people to take their word on whether they will or will not change a certain section of the Constitution. There were a lot of promises around employment, development, and defending the country’s borders. The government has successfully created a narrative on how well they have done rather than on what has been done on the ground.
In case BJP gets an overwhelming majority, do you apprehend they will do away with reservations?They have been very vocal on the ground (about it). Videos of their leaders saying 400 is only a number, the real issue is to change the Constitution. I think it is there and it is for the people to realize this. Changing the Constitution without an Opposition that is strong enough to question it is very dangerous. We are not against amendments in keeping with the changing times but there should be a healthy debate and a consensus.
BJP has taken on the Opposition on dynasty politics. You are in a prominent position in BSP and you are related to Mayawati.Empires have been built again and again over the ages. Even in BJP, which takes a lot of pride in not being into dynastic politics, apart from Modi ji- I cannot even count Amit Shah as his son is in a powerful position- the second and even the third generation of all their leaders are active in the party. It is alright for them to participate but one’s rise and fall depends on one’s caliber. If you are not capable, people will oust you. It is best for the people to decide.