Dalit leader Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravana has ruled out the possibility of an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. On Saturday, he said, “Akhileshji does not need Dalits. That is why there is no alliance in the assembly polls. ”
Several media outlets claimed that Akhilesh had discussed the issue in a secret meeting with Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrasekhar in Lucknow on Thursday night. “I went to Lucknow for two days to meet Akhileshji,” said Chandrasekhar. But he insulted me, and the leaders of my party feared that I too would join the SP. ”
Chandrasekhar also questioned the SP’s commitment to social justice. In his words, “he is silent about the Dalits.” He also claimed that he wanted to join hands with SP and BSP to defeat BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
The Bhim Army, a social organization formed by Chandrasekhar, has taken part in the fight for the rights of Dalits and backward classes in various states in the last few years. Chandrasekhar also was very much active in the movement against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in North India. He formed the Azad Samaj Party in March 2020.
