EP 193 - The Rise of Chandrashekhar Azad: A New Era for Dalit Politics

ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Chandrashekhar Azad has secured a seat in Parliament by garnering over 50% of the votes from the Nagina Constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Dalit leader clinched victory amidst stiff competition from opponents such as the SP, BSP, and BJP. This comes at a time when the national party BSP failed to win any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. Chandrashekhar Azad is a lawyer, chief, and co-founder of the Bhim Army. He is also the national president of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram). In February 2021, Azad was featured in Time magazine's annual list of 100 Emerging Leaders who are Shaping the Future.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Azad explains what this victory means for his community and the future of Dalit politics in India. He also discusses why he chose to enter active politics and the challenges he faced to reach this point. Azad shares his views on BSP Supremo Mayawati and analyzes what went wrong for the BSP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Azad claims to be the hope of the Dalit community and vows to advocate for their rights in Parliament. He strongly advocates for reservation in the private sector, emphasizing the need for adequate representation for the Dalit community. Azad also discusses why he is not part of the INDIA alliance and what strained his ties with the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav.

In 2020, Azad was arrested for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens in Delhi. He was previously arrested for allegedly inciting caste-based riots in Saharanpur in 2017. In this episode, he also recounts his ordeal in police custody.

(0:00) Introduction

(0:35) Journey to Parliament

(4:09) Who's the Inspiration

(6:120 Swearing-in as MP

(10:15) Alliance & Nagina's Development

(13:18) Bid to Defeat Azad

(18:22) Dalits and Their Rights

(19:51) Why Electoral Politics

(21:57) Revolutionary Life

(26:40) Minorities & Political Power

(29:32) NSA Against Azad

(36:14) NDA or INDIA?

(44:10) Biggest Dalit Leader

(52:28) Azad's Support Base

(57:45) Controversies on Castes

(1:05:50) Constitution

(1:08:20) Equal Representation