Adarsh Shastri, the grandson of former Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri is not afraid to bite the ballot bullet. Therefore, saying goodbye to his plush job, he jumped into the choppy water of politics to revive the principles of his grandfather. He is contesting from Allahabad on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket. In a tete-a-tete with Hujjat Raza he explains his agenda and how he is going to protect his family’s legacy
Do you think your political legacy will help you win elections from Allahabad constituencyIJ
The holy city of Allahabad had been a karma bhoomi of my grandfather and Former PM lal Bahadur Shastri who was elected as Member of Parliament in 1957 and 1962. After him, my uncle Hari Kishan Shastri contested election from Allahabad in 1971 and another uncle Sunil Shastri in 1987. My father contested in 1991. Such a political legacy and attachment with Allahabad will certainly help me in elections. This holy city had served as genesis of freedom movement and the AAP was formed to struggle for second freedom movement which was against corruption and to established better system. None of the candidate has connection with Allahabad which I enjoy and it will help me winning the seat.
What will be your agenda and plans for AllahabadIJ
It has been nearly 37 years since the word ‘development’ went missing from Allahabad. There were many local issues including conservation of Ganga river, improving traffic scenario, quality education and availability of potable water. leaving all these issues, opportunist politicians keep people busy in useless issues of caste and religion and use them as vote bank.
Who is your key opponent in AllahabadIJ
I do not think any candidate of BJP, Congress, BSP or SP as key opponent in the lok Sabha elections. As all of them changed their parties before elections, they will take much time to explain people about their changed political party. Sitting SP MP, Kuwar Rewati Raman Singh who did not carry out development in the constituency will not be able to face the voters who elected him.
As you have very little time for campaigning for elections, how will you reach out to the massesIJ
I have planned to use three-point programme for reaching out to the masses in lesser time. First would be door-to-door campaigning with the help of AAP volunteers and second would be Nukkad Sabha on ward and block-level and lastly, media and social media to spread the message. My main strength in the campaigning would be the young AAP volunteers. I would love to get the support of youths from Allahabad University and seeing the legacy they would come out to support me in the elections.