Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Phulpur still waiting for development, says PSP-L candidate Priya Singh Paul

Priya Singh Paul, the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) candidate from Phulpur parliamentary constituency, is all praise for her party president Shivpal Yadav.

In an interview to Kenneth John, she shared her plans to test political waters solely to set an example of what a public representative was capable of doing for his or her constituency and how she would develop Phulpur. Excerpts:

Why did you choose PSP-L, a few month old party to test political waters? Did other major players did not offer you ticket?

No. That’s not true. I would not take names but almost all major political party offered me a ticket to contest the elections. PSP-L founder president Shivpal Yadav offered me a ticket from Phulpur and I accepted the challenge.

You have shunned the glamour (like SUVs etc.) that candidates generally display during canvassing. Do you think this would hit your efforts to woo voters in the constituency as more the glamour, more the candidate is considered to be capable of serving the voters?

I do not believe in making voters continue doing what they have been doing till now without getting any concrete results. A direct connect with each voter, who would cast his or her vote for me is more important. A close dialogue about their woes and aspirations would help me not only understand the constituency better but also plan my work agenda in a mature way after winning the elections.

Also Read | Lok Sabha elections 2019: Phulpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh

Would Shivpal Singh Yadav’s PSP-L make a difference in this general elections?

Those who know Shivpal Yadav surely know his mature political skills. In fact, he was the front man for the Samajwadi Party but sadly had to form his own party. He still has the same respect and love for (his brother) Mulayam Singh ji and every poster of mine has Mulayam’s photograph on it.

What difference do you find between the Congress and the BJP?

Congress is a party which has the ability and commitment to take all communities, irrespective of their caste, creed and religion together. The Bharatiya Janata Party is focused on its ‘Hindu Rashtra’ agenda which would only cause more harm to the country than good. Where should the Muslim, Christians and other minorities disappear overnight and why?

Phulpur has been witness to the freedom struggle with Annad Bhawan, Swaraj Bhawan located in its jurisdiction but has suffered severe political neglect. What is your take?

The centenary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre was observed with all the attention and much hue and cry was made over the UK ambassador to India not tendering an apology for it. But even after six decades, no one has thought of developing the constituency from where the country’s freedom struggle against the British was planned and executed. After the IFFCO fertilizer plant established by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, nothing was done for the residents of this constituency who voted every general elections for development. People here are still waiting for development.