Anupriya Patel is the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. A second time MP from Mirzapur she is the president of the Apna Dal (S), a key ally of the NDA. Despite allying with the BJP, Patel has been clear that it is social justice and not Hindutva which is foremost for her party. The Apna Dal (S) is contesting on 17 seats in the ongoing Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
What gives you the gumption to make statements like the issues of Hindutva are not your issues?
That is the type of person I am. This is my temperament. I have always been straightforward. Politics does not have too many plain speaking people. Instead of me emulating other politicians, I thought why not set a precedence by being clear and forthright. Politics would benefit if there were more who spoke the truth.
Are you not worried about how the BJP might react to you?
The BJP leadership knows what kind of a person I am. I have remained true to my temperament. They have accepted me as I am. Parties with differing ideologies form alliances. The BJP and the BSP have been allies as have the BJP and the PDP (in Jammu and Kashmir). If there were no differing ideologies within an alliance and no disagreements the purpose of an alliance is defeated.
What have you learnt in your political journey in addition to what your father (late Dr Sonelal Patel) taught you?
My father taught us nothing. We were left completely untouched. All I knew is that he ran a party called Apna Dal (the party has since split into two factions and the other faction is headed by Patel’s mother Krishna). It was very unfortunate that we lost him so cruelly (in a road accident). The party decided to hand over the organisation to me. I was a greenhorn who knew nothing. Slowly I started to move around, talking to people, identifying issues and challenges that the Apna Dal could stand for to raise its voice for the downtrodden and the marginalised.
What is your ideology?
Apna Dal since its inception has stood for the downtrodden, the marginalised and the disadvantaged. We want that the backward castes and the SCs/STs get equal representation whether in legislatures, bureaucracy, education, judiciary or any other sphere. My party for instance has been demanding an All India Judicial Services where all sections of society, especially deserving candidates from the disadvantaged groups appear. Why must our High Court judges not come from the SC/ST communities? More representation and equal opportunities are our core demands.
There is Constitutionally mandated reservation and reservation as mandated by the Mandal Commission. Is that not enough?
Simply look at the backlog of vacancies. Is there a mental barrier that needs to be broken so that what was intended by the founding fathers of our Constitution can be implemented? Why is it that something that the Government of India has provided for has not found space in the system? It is unfortunate that so many different governments have come and gone but the backlog has kept increasing.
There are other political parties that claim to speak for the downtrodden. How is the Apna Dal (S) different?
The Apna Dal does not pay mere lip service. We do not believe in symbolism in the name of social justice. We fight for social justice, stand for social justice and we do it for real. We have got so many issues resolved. When we reached the Parliament of India with the bare strength of just two MPs, we raised the issue of reservation for the backwards in the NEET examination (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). Parties which claim to stand for social justice had been in government or supported governments before that, yet had never raised the issue. Yet (such) parties claim to be torchbearers of social justice.
What has your party been able to achieve, especially for your own (Kurmi) community?
The Apna Dal does not stand for any community. Bigger parties, more successful parties always try to pigeon hole the smaller parties or give them inappropriate labels or tags. I maintain that my late father founded this party on the principles and philosophy of social justice. That is what we are working for. We do not fight for a caste or community. We fight for the disadvantaged who form a big section of society and has so many castes, sub-castes; communities and sub-communities. I do not stand for any particular caste or community. That is not my politics.
What are the schemes of the state government (UP) which have been very well implemented?
Every single district has a medical college today. It is either already constructed or being constructed. Health is a basic requirement of life. Will these medical colleges not bring about a change in the quality of lives?
In 2021, the Prime Minister gave a clarion call from the ramparts of the Red Fort to increase our exports. Where are these export products coming from? Our districts offer so much in terms of handlooms, handicrafts and agricultural produce. We can give a big boost to the economy by emphasising more on export promotion and turning every district into an export hub. Then this idea was brought to UP where the ODOP (One District, One Product) scheme was already in place. The two were clubbed. Value addition to products, capacity building and training of the workforce involved helped make these products export competitive. This will generate employment and the young will have no need to leave the state. Crores of people got homes, not just under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana but also under the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana.
These are just some examples.
Where does your party stand on the issue of religious conversion and population stabilisation?
We will put forth our views when the bills are tabled in the state or central legislature. All I would say for now is that our Constitution gives us the right to choose.
The number of seats you have this time is more than what you contested in 2017. (The party had contested in 11 seats). Did you demand a greater share or was it given to you?
Our party has expanded. We have worked at the grassroots level. We are a valued partner. We want to and have grown and evolved together. As much as we want to be with them, so do they. We have created space for each other and worked out a mechanism for staying together. Both our vote share and our strike rate will improve in this election.
Between the west and the east, where do you see the bigger challenge for the NDA?
I don’t see any challenge for the NDA. I believe today’s voter has become very aspirational. He can make an assessment of various governments run by various political parties or alliances. The voter knows how life was between 2012-17 and between 2017-2022. A voter asks himself—'Did I get anything personally? Did my standard of living improve?' A homeless getting a house, someone who never had the privilege of a toilet getting one, Rs 5 lakh as health insurance, bank accounts in one’s name. These things make a real time difference in the quality of life of the voter.
Will the farmers agitation have no impact on the elections?
If you would have asked me this question some months back my response would have been different. After the repeal of the laws, I see no impact. Our alliance will gain.
Are you willing to put a figure on the number of seats you will get?
I do not want to get into the numbers but we are retaining power on the basis of good governance and inclusive growth. Our priority is to is come back to power to continue the journey of development. Whatever we started in the first term shall continue in the second term. UP has better ease of doing business, is a better destination for investment, has better law and order; these things should not just continue but crystallise. This is what we need the second term for.
The NDA will make a grand comeback. We will see another five years of good governance and tremendous development which will lead to a completely transformed UP where everyone’s aspirations are fulfilled. It will be a government which commits itself to the broader issues of social justice. There will be the right cocktail of development and social justice.
Where do you stand on the issue of the caste census?
We have always stood for it. Even the BJP in the Bihar Assembly stood in favour of it. There is a big section within the BJP which stands for it. This is an indication that the party leadership is thinking more and more on it. There need to be more consultations. It is a big party. A national level decision requires deep thought. I am very hopeful that the caste census will happen. The caste census will also expose the symbolism and pretence of parties that claim they stand for social justice.
Besides your core support base, what is your peripheral support base?
All castes and communities support us. Look at our candidate list. We have given tickets to Dalits, OBCs, upper castes and Muslims. We have been able to do that because everyone likes the Apna Dal (S).
How do you evaluate yourself as a minister?
I have a lot to learn. I am just a beginner. Every election that my party or I contest is an assessment. From 2009 to 2022, we have not failed. In 2012, I was the lone MLA, in the 2014 byelection we had one more MLA. In 2014 we had two MPs. In 2016 I became part of the Union ministry. In the 2017 assembly elections nine of our 11 candidates won. We were also part of the (Yogi Adityanath-led) ministry. In 2021, I became a minister again. The public is constantly evaluating us.
What kind of political shift will it require to get more women into politics?
We cannot say that political parties have not started pondering over the issue. Women empowerment is not only a subject of concern in our country but the world over. We have had a woman PM, President, Speaker, ministers, MPs, MLAs but their percentage is very low. Social transformation takes years. Everyone talks of women empowerment now, but why are we not also talking about preparing men to accept/be with empowered women? In my party women are given their due. When we had to pick someone for a post (with minister) status, I chose a grassroot level woman worker even though seniors in the party said otherwise.
You have not fielded a candidate against your mother, Krishna Patel (who heads the Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) which has tied up with the Samajwadi Party). Is there hope of a political reconciliation?
She is my mother, I am her child. No one can take her place. I am what I am because of my parents’ sacrifices. I cannot field a candidate against my mother. Whether she wins or loses depends on her party workers. We are on politically different paths but things might change in the future.
