Lucknow: Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently parted ways with the Samajwadi Party to establish his own political outfit, the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party (RSSP), announced on Sunday that his party would independently contest elections in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar constituency. Despite discussions with leaders from the Opposition INDIA alliance, Maurya indicated a lack of progress, prompting his decision to forge ahead solo.
Expressing his commitment to bolstering the INDIA alliance since the inception of RSSP on February 22, Maurya highlighted his endeavors to foster cooperation among opposition forces. However, citing delays in decision-making regarding his inclusion within the alliance, Maurya opted to prioritize the electoral aspirations of Kushinagar residents.
Emphasizing the significance of upholding the dignity and development of Kushinagar constituents, Maurya declared his candidacy for the Kushinagar Lok Sabha seat, affirming his dedication to their welfare. Additionally, he revealed SN Chauhan as the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party's candidate for the Deoria Lok Sabha constituency, with further candidate announcements forthcoming.
Maurya's decision to contest independently raises questions about his alignment with the INDIA alliance and echoes past instances where other leaders, such as Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and Apna Dal (Camerawadi) leader Pallavi Patel, were excluded from the alliance.
Swami Prasad Maurya's political trajectory has seen him traverse various parties, including the BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), before joining and subsequently leaving the Samajwadi Party. His departure from the Samajwadi Party in February followed allegations of discrimination and insufficient support from party leadership regarding his remarks on religious matters.
Maurya's political journey, which includes a stint as the Leader of the Opposition during the Akhilesh Yadav administration, reflects the fluid dynamics of Uttar Pradesh politics. Notably, his daughter serves as the BJP's Member of Parliament for Badaun, having secured victory in the 2019 elections.
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