Known for grassroots politics, Samajwadi Party’s Ravidas Mehrotra is contesting against defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is eyeing a hat-trick from the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat.

Apart from fighting the BJP veteran, Mehrotra, the MLA from Lucknow Central is also wrestling with rumours that his party leaders are not interested in forcefully pitting him against Rajnath, who shares a close relationship with the family of the SP founder, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mehrotra spoke to The Telegraph on what makes him more acceptable among the locals. Excerpts:

Q: You were elected from the Lucknow Central Assembly seat in 2012 and 2022 but contesting the parliamentary elections from Lucknow for the first time. What are your issues this time?

A: It is local versus outsider in Lucknow. Rajnath Singh, who won the Lok Sabha elections here in 2014 and 2019, has nothing to do with the people of the constituency. He didn’t visit Lucknow even once in five years. He didn’t come here even for a minute when thousands of people were dying in the absence of medicines or medical assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. All he did for this place was to hand over the Lucknow railway station to a corporate and sell our beautiful Lucknow airport. There are allegations that he sold 28 per cent shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which was a profit-making company of the defence ministry. The voters of Lucknow are angry with him.

Q: How is your election campaign going?

A: I have been fighting for people for several years. I was put in jail 250 times in the last few years for taking up people’s issues. I live with the people and struggle for their issues. We can hope for a change.

Q: You have been pitted against a veteran. Are you facing problems?

A: I am a local and he is from Chandauli. I have no problem in contesting against him. It doesn’t matter how big a politician he is. What is important is the connect of a leader with the people and Rajnath lacks that. He doesn’t spend time with the people when they are in need. Let alone the voters, he didn’t even visit the houses of his own party leaders in Lucknow when they died in the last few years. He doesn’t care about his partymen.

Q: It’s widely believed that you are not being able to campaign the way you were expected to do as an SP nominee. Is that true?

A: We are campaigning according to our capacity. I conduct door-to-door campaigns every day. People say he (Rajnath) has lots of money, earned by unfair means. I have the common man with me. This contest is between people and the BJP candidate. I believe people will defeat Rajnath.

Q: How do people react when you approach them for votes?

A: They say they trust me because I struggle for them. They promise me their support and say they will uproot the outsider from here. People in Lucknow personally know me because I am within their reach round the clock. I reach out to them whenever they call me. I fight for their sewer line, electricity, education, treatment and participate in their struggle. My job is to solve their problems but Rajnath is increasing their struggle.

Q: There is a rumour that your party leaders asked you to go slow in campaigning against Rajnath. Is that true?

A: No, it is not true. I am free to campaign and I am doing it. You visit any area in Lucknow and ask the people. They will tell you I have met them several times in the last five years. They will also tell you that I met them for their votes this time and they are willing to elect me only because I am their friend.

Q: Do you want to say anything to the people?

A: Yes, I want to appeal to them to cast their votes in large numbers to show their anger against the sitting MP and the Narendra Modi government. They must turn up at the polling booths in Lucknow on May 20 to protect the nation, democracy and the Constitution.

Q: What do you make of the low turnout at the polling booths this time compared to 2019?

A. BJP voters have shown disinterest in this election because they are pessimistic about the Modi government. But my voters will reach the booth in large numbers.

Lucknow votes on May 20