I am happy that I have become shield of my leader to face all the accusations. And this is how it should be. The Firozabad defeat was a sour one for the SP and I have no qualms in admitting the same; nor does Mulayam Singhji. But is this reason for chaos to reign in our party? Is this so much unheard in the history of this democracy where a powerful, pro-voter party (or candidate) has lost?

It happened to Indira Gandhi in 1975, then MP from Rae Bareli, following almost four years of legal proceedings ending in the declaration of a state of emergency and prison cells being occupied. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee lost Gwaliar and even we rested Mayawati’s stronghold Akbarpur. But were they finished…no they all came back even more strongly. Here I am not trying to give any excuse for our losses in our stronghold areas but we are prepared to understand reasons for this debacle and work on them. But at the same time I would worn all those who are writing us off; some people had same opinion on more than one occasion about us in the past but we always came back strongly and proved them wrong.

Comparatively, I would believe our acceptance has been with dignity and humility. Some of my fellow Samajwadies have been emotional and impulsive in their attempts to fully understand this setback. Comments, blames and accusations have been exaggerated and publicized. But, at it’s core, the SP is still one. Mulayamji is here and I am here. Important assets of the SP are still standing. There is no question of our future agenda…we must rise.

I will not hold any grudges against the many emotional outbursts my family members of the SP have made against me. My regards to Mayawati to have accomplished a win; but I do not feel the need to gift credit. It was a bye-election and the ruling party does have a clear advantage. Even we used to win all bye elections when we were in power but we lost 2007 assembly elections. The SP is yearning to come back, and as I believe, in a personal capacity, we already are.

However, post Firozabad events have once again made me realize that politics is not a bed of roses. In bloody politics one is never settled, it’s a continuous struggle, one has to prove time and again. Some time you have to fight outsider and some time you have to deal with own family members. I have no grudges against those who are uncomfortable with my presence and I will ensure that Samjwadi party stand united under the leadership of Netaji.

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