It's the largest state in India and it goes to the polls next year. And similar to the alphabet, even in Uttar Pradesh politics, C precedes D: Caste before Development. In the 6th part of CNBC-TV18’s series What's Ailing Rural India, the team travelled to Mulayam Singh Yadav's bastion Azamgarh to find how a Harijan village backing Mayawati finds itself out of favour with the Samajwadi government.
Just 15 kilometres on the outskirts of Azamgarh town, in Mubarakpur block, life is slow. It is almost noon but these men are in no hurry. Primarily daily wagers, many in this village of Maliksudni have not found work in days.
A regular job is the biggest ask for this village, primarily Harijan-dominated and once an Ambedkar village but now struggling to find its own name. With barely enough money for sustenance, children in many families here are forced to forego their education.
Interestingly this village was designated an Ambedkar village under the last govt ruled by Bahujan Samaj party but availing government services has always been a struggle, more so now under the SP government. One of their biggest struggles is to deal with corruption at Panchayat level.
This small hamlet in Mulayam Singh Yadav's bastion backs Mayawati. Villagers complain they are being neglected by the new government, thanks to their political affiliations. The newly elected Pradhan says he is just beginning his tenure.
From livelihood to education to securing benefits of a government scheme, problems in Mallikasudni reflect a fate determined by political affiliations but also of one where the voter eventually loses the voice. With elections round the corner, would this angry village be showing the power of the ballot? Therein lies the big irony.
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