Click to play videoOn a day when Samajwadi Party (SP) expelled former general secretary of the party Amar Singh and party worker Jaya Prada, CNN-IBN in an exclusive interview with Amar Singh finds out if he has another political life. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Mohan Singh announced the decision to expel the two leaders on Tuesday in Lucknow.
CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai spoke to Amar Singh.
Rajdeep Sardesai:You are out of the Samajwadi Party what are your political options? Some say you are a political untouchable.
Amar Singh: I’m not a usual hardcore politician who does not have options. My friends have not deserted me. So I’m happy about that.
Rajdeep Sardesai: You are a power hungry politician, you need to find a political space. Is there an option of tying up with Mayawati?
Amar Singh: Absolutely not.
Rajdeep Sardesai: Any option of Congress?
Amar Singh: I haven’t thought about it.
Rajdeep Sardesai: It’s an absolutely not for Mayawati but haven’t thought of it for Congress, is it not true that you have reached out to the Congress trying to find a space in the party and have been rejected?
Amar Singh: Absolutely untrue. Before my kidney transplant I sought an appointment with Soniaji. Since then I haven’t met her or anyone in the Congress.
Rajdeep Sardesai: In UP politics Mulyam Singh has Yadav vote, Mayawati has Dalit vote, What about Amar Singh? There is talk that you want to set up a Thakur party? Do you think you can do it?
Amar Singh: I don’t know. This is just a contemplation. What I will do is none of your business.
Rajdeep Sardesai: Will you remain in politics? You said your health will not let you stay in politics?
Amar Singh: I’m entitled to chill. I’m entitled to do what I want to.
Rajdeep Sardesai: Will you use all your friends like Amitabh Bachchan who have not deserted you perhaps for a political outlet?
Amar Singh: This is a very mischievous question. Because Amitabh Bachchan is not a political person. If you asked this question about Jaya Bachan that would have been in a positive light.
Rajdeep Sardesai: So will Jaya Bachchan be with you, because she was not expelled.
Amar Singh: But she has said what she had to say.
Rajdeep Sardesai: That she is firmly with you?
Amar Singh: Yes.
Rajdeep Sardesai: Are you going to form a party with leaders who are film stars or with local UP leaders?
Amar Singh: You are not talking about the most backward leaders with whom I was there in UP an no one believed I could be with them at grassroot. They do not get TRPs so you have not covered that.
Rajdeep Sardesai: So will you form a party with them with backward caste and Thakurs? UP elections are in 2012, are you ready to form political outfit?
Amar Singh: They have got hands, they have got structure but no face, so they are asking me to be their face, they are calling me. I am not a candidate for CM, not asking me for powerplay, so I am ready to be their face.
Rajdeep Sardesai: To be face of what? Political front or do you want to unite them?
Amar Singh: I am not casteist.
Rajdeep Sardesai: You believe that the backward castes and Thakurs together need a leader?
Amar Singh: No I’m not saying they need a leader, I am not a leader, I’m a rootless wanderer.
Rajdeep Sardesai: You are hinting at it.
Amar Singh: No no. I’m not saying I will form political outfit, not saying I will gobble them for political muscle power. Three times Yadavs have become CMs and if SP believes in working for the downtrodden, then they should not give symbolic representation to kuswas and isas in their organisation. They should declare that an educated Muslim or educated muys backward will become the next CM. I’m going to do precisely that.
Rajdeep Sardesai: You are going to make a Thakur or an educated backward class a chief minister?
Amar Singh: No not a Thakur, an educated backward caste or a Muslim.
Rajdeep Sardesai:So you are going to make an educated backward caste the next chief minister of UP?
Amar Singh: An educated backward caste or a or Muslim.
Rajdeep Sardesai: Do you feel, hurt, depressed that someone whom you worked with for 14 years today has virtually discarded you?
Amar Singh: I'am not feeling hurt or depressed. I am feeling euphoric. I don't have to do certain things which I never wanted to do like opposing English, opposing computer, opposing blogs and hobnobbing with criminals.
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