In this episode, we sit down with Rajkumar Bhati for a candid and insightful conversation about his journey into politics and the experiences that shaped his political worldview. Bhati reflects on the internal challenges facing the Samajwadi Party, the missed opportunities in recent years, and how the party plans to reinvent itself ahead of the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
He also shares his thoughts on the evolving PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy and its potential to revive the party’s fortunes. In a sharp critique of the BJP, Bhati discusses what he sees as the ruling party’s polarising politics, its growing disconnect with marginalised communities, and how the Samajwadi Party intends to offer a meaningful alternative.
Tune in for a grounded, no-holds-barred conversation on the present & future of Uttar Pradesh politics.
#UttarPradeshPolitics #PDAAlliance #SamajwadiParty #2027UPElections #muslimrepresentation
00:00 - Teaser
02:10 - Intro of the Guest
02:29 - Why Did He Start Dehat Morcha?
06:14 - What Brought Him to Politics?
08:23 - Why did you join the Samajwadi Party?
09:27 - Excerpts from his childhood
18:50 - What influenced him towards Socialist principles?
25:12 - His Role as a Spokesperson in Samajwadi Party
26:57 - Experience in standing for elections as an SP candidate
30:47 – How SP won 37 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha polls
32:21 – The myth of SP’s MY (Muslim-Yadav) politics
34:36 – Are Muslim leaders being sidelined in SP?
37:29 – Future strategy behind the PDA narrative
39:44 – What is “Not Found Suitable”?
41:54 – Why did Social Justice parties fail to consolidate marginalised caste groups?
44:38 – Why didn’t the farmer protests affect the general elections?
48:36 – Is the Samajwadi Party just a Yadav party?
52:23 – Was Rajkumar Bhati offered to join the BJP?
59:35 – Is the caste census a masterstroke by PM Modi?
01:01:02 – Is the caste census a casteist move?
01:04:06 – What does he think about Chandrashekhar Ravan?
01:05:11 – Bhati’s scientific temperament