MORADABAD — Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Moradabad MP S.T. Hasan has defended party president Akhilesh Yadav’s decision not to nominate a Muslim candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, describing the move as a political strategy and asserting that the party chief remains committed to the Muslim community.
Hasan was responding to questions about the SP’s list of Rajya Sabha nominees, which does not include a Muslim candidate. Asked whether the decision could affect the party’s PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) social coalition, Hasan said he had no objection to the absence of a Muslim nominee.
“We have no problem with a Muslim not being sent to the Rajya Sabha. Rather, this is a strategy of our leader Akhilesh Yadav,” Hasan said.
He further asserted that Yadav would not abandon the Muslim community and suggested that the reasoning behind the decision would become clearer over time.
“He can never abandon Muslims, nor can he take any risk regarding them. Akhilesh Yadav is completely with Muslims. Whether he says it publicly or not, I know this. Time will tell what he plans to do next,” Hasan said.
Hasan maintained that the decision was likely based on political considerations that were not immediately apparent. He described the move as a calculated decision that, in his view, could strengthen the SP.
“There is definitely some reasoning behind the decision of our party president. This surprise move will strengthen the Samajwadi Party,” he said.
During the interaction, Hasan also spoke about protests concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He expressed support for the demonstrations and alleged irregularities in voter registration and deletion.
Hasan also criticised the handling of electoral issues and alleged that democratic institutions were facing challenges. These remarks reflect his political views and allegations; no independent evidence substantiating the claims was provided in the material available.
Opposition Alliance and Seat Sharing
Hasan also commented on Congress leader Imran Masood’s appointment as working president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit.
He suggested that the appointment could have implications for negotiations within the opposition alliance, including discussions over seat-sharing arrangements.
Hasan said alliance partners should seek to contest only those constituencies where they have a realistic organisational and electoral base. He added that final decisions on seat sharing would be taken by senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav.
Remarks on Flydubai Incident
The former MP also commented on a recent incident involving a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, praising the Indian pilot involved and describing the pilot’s actions as courageous.
At the same time, Hasan urged caution against drawing conclusions before the circumstances were established through a formal investigation.
Referring to reports that the incident may have had a terrorist connection, he said, “This could have a jihadi connection or it may not. The facts will emerge after the investigation.”
Hasan also criticised what he described as premature conclusions by some international actors and media organisations.
The Samajwadi Party has not publicly indicated whether it intends to nominate a Muslim candidate to the Rajya Sabha in a future vacancy or election.
The party’s decision not to field a Muslim candidate in the current round has nevertheless prompted discussion over its representation strategy and the political implications for its PDA coalition.
